# Law No. 2961 of November 23, 1956

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649016](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649016)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-2961-of-november-23-1956

## Summary

Law No. 2961 of November 23, 1956 (Lei nº 2961/1956) is a Brazilian federal statute that establishes a specific budget allocation for hydroelectric exploitation works at the Uruguay River Strait (Estreito do Rio Uruguay), representing a legislative measure to fund infrastructure development in the southern region of Brazil during the Kubitschek administration.

## Key Facts

- **Official Title:** Lei nº 2961, de 23 de novembro de 1956
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 2961/1956
- **Publication Date:** November 23, 1956
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Country:** Brazil
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (applies to the Federal Government of Brazil)
- **Classification:** Statute (instance_of: statute)
- **Promulgated By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Signed By:** Juscelino Kubitschek (President of Brazil, 1956-1961)
- **Determination Method:** Promulgation
- **LEXML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1956-11-23;2961
- **Main Subjects:** Ministry of Agriculture of Brazil (Ministério da Agricultura), Federal Government of Brazil (União Federal), budget (Orçamento), Santa Catarina state, Rio Grande do Sul state, Q10278632 (Financial Year/Exercício Financeiro)
- **Purpose:** Establishes specific budget allocation for hydroelectric works at the Uruguay River Strait
- **Available At:** https://legis.senado.leg.br/norma/?numero=2961&tipo_norma=lei&data=19561123&link=s

## FAQs

**What is Law No. 2961 of November 23, 1956?**

Law No. 2961 of November 23, 1956 is a Brazilian federal law that allocates specific budget funding for hydroelectric exploitation projects at the Uruguay River Strait. It was enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek and represents a legislative authorization for infrastructure investment in the southern region of Brazil.

**Which Brazilian states are affected by this law?**

The law specifically pertains to the states of Santa Catarina (Estado de Santa Catarina) and Rio Grande do Sul (Estado do Rio Grande do Sul), as these are the Brazilian states bordering the Uruguay River where the hydroelectric works were planned.

**Who signed Law No. 2961/1956?**

The law was promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek, who served as President of the Federative Republic of Brazil from 1956 to 1961. The law was formally approved on November 23, 1956.

**What government agencies are associated with this law?**

The Ministry of Agriculture of Brazil (Ministério da Agricultura - MAGR) is listed as a main subject of the law, indicating its involvement in the hydroelectric project planning and implementation process. The Federal Government of Brazil (União Federal) is the overarching jurisdictional entity.

**What type of legal instrument is Law No. 2961/1956?**

This is a statute (estatuto) - a formal written document that creates law, specifically a legislative act (lei) passed by the federal government. It is classified as an instance of "statute" within Brazilian legal taxonomy.

**Where can Law No. 2961/1956 be accessed?**

The full text of the law is available through the Brazilian Senate legislation database at https://legis.senado.leg.br/norma/?numero=2961&tipo_norma=lei&data=19561123&link=s and the Presidential Legislation website at https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=2961&ano=1956&data=23/11/1956&ato=617ITQU90dNRVT812.

## Why It Matters

Law No. 2961 of November 23, 1956 matters as a historical example of Brazil's mid-20th century infrastructure development efforts under the Kubitschek administration, which was characterized by ambitious industrialization and modernization programs. The law represents a specific legislative action to authorize budget allocation for hydroelectric power development—a critical component of Brazil's energy infrastructure and economic growth strategy during this period.

The Uruguay River Strait hydroelectric project, which this law funded, was part of Brazil's broader effort to develop its energy sector and support industrial expansion. Hydroelectric power has historically been a cornerstone of Brazil's energy matrix, and this law reflects the country's early commitment to leveraging its substantial water resources for national development.

From a legal and administrative perspective, this law demonstrates how the Brazilian federal government utilizes statutory instruments to direct budgetary resources toward specific infrastructure projects. The involvement of the Ministry of Agriculture suggests the project may have had agricultural development implications, potentially including irrigation or water management components alongside power generation.

The law also illustrates the federal structure of Brazil, with the national government allocating resources for projects that affect multiple states (Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul), demonstrating coordinated regional development efforts in the southern region.

## Notable For

- **Historical Infrastructure Legislation:** Represents one of Brazil's early legislative efforts to develop hydroelectric infrastructure in the southern region during the post-war industrialization period.
- **Presidential Authorization:** Signed by Juscelino Kubitschek, one of Brazil's most prominent developmentalist presidents, during his administration (1956-1961).
- **Regional Development Focus:** Specifically addresses infrastructure needs in the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, representing federal investment in southern Brazil.
- **Budget Allocation Mechanism:** Demonstrates the use of statutory law to establish specific budget allocations for infrastructure projects, a key tool in governmental planning.
- **Legal Documentation:** Preserved in multiple official government databases, demonstrating its ongoing legal validity and archival importance.

## Body

### Legislative Origin and Enactment

Law No. 2961 was enacted on November 23, 1956, during a transformative period in Brazilian history. The law emerged during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, who governed Brazil from 1956 to 1961 and pursued an ambitious developmentalist agenda focused on industrialization, infrastructure development, and national modernization. Kubitschek's administration is particularly remembered for the construction of Brasília, which was inaugurated as Brazil's new capital in 1960.

The law was formally promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, with President Kubitschek providing presidential assent. The determination method recorded is "promulgation," indicating the formal act of announcing the law as official and enforceable following its passage through the legislative process.

The place of publication was Rio de Janeiro, which served as Brazil's capital until 1960 when Brasília was inaugurated. This detail situates the law within the institutional framework of the federal government prior to the capital transfer.

### Legal Classification and Structure

As a federal statute (lei), Law No. 2961 represents a formal written document that creates law at the national level. Within the Brazilian legal system, statutes are the primary form of legislation enacted by the federal government, as distinguished from other legal instruments such as decrees, regulations, or judicial decisions.

The law is classified as having the following attributes:
- **Instance Type:** Statute
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (Federal)
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 2961/1956
- **LEXML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1956-11-23;2961

The LEXML identification system provides a standardized URN format for Brazilian legislation, enabling precise referencing and retrieval of legal texts across government databases.

### Subject Matter and Purpose

The core purpose of Law No. 2961/1956, as stated in its legal digest, is to "ESTABELECE, NO ORÇAMENTO, DOTAÇÃO ESPECIFICA PARA AS OBRAS DE APROVEITAMENTO HIDRELETRICO DO ESTREITO DO RIO URUGUAI" (Establishes, in the budget, specific allocation for the works of hydroelectric exploitation of the Uruguay River Strait).

This indicates that the law's primary function was budgetary authorization—specifically, establishing a dedicated funding allocation (dotação específica) within the federal budget for hydroelectric development works at the Uruguay River Strait. Hydroelectric exploitation refers to the development of power generation facilities that harness the kinetic energy of flowing water to produce electricity.

The Uruguay River (Rio Uruguay) forms part of the border between Brazil and Argentina, and also flows through Uruguay. The "Estreito do Rio Uruguay" (Uruguay River Strait) refers to a specific narrow section of the river where hydroelectric development was planned, likely due to favorable topographical conditions for power generation.

### Geographic Scope and Affected Regions

The law specifically pertains to the southern region of Brazil, with particular relevance to two states:

**Santa Catarina** (Estado de Santa Catarina - SC): A southern Brazilian state known for its diverse economy, agricultural production, and increasingly, industrial development. The state has significant water resources and has been the site of various hydroelectric projects.

**Rio Grande do Sul** (Estado do Rio Grande do Sul - RS): The southernmost Brazilian state, sharing a border with Argentina and Uruguay. The state has a strong agricultural economy and has historically been involved in hydroelectric development along the Uruguay River basin.

The inclusion of both states in the law's subject matters indicates that the Uruguay River Strait hydroelectric project was intended to serve regional development objectives in southern Brazil, potentially benefiting both states through power generation and associated economic activities.

### Institutional Framework

Several government entities are associated with Law No. 2961/1956:

**Ministry of Agriculture of Brazil** (Ministério da Agricultura - MAGR): Listed as a main subject of the law, indicating the ministry's involvement in the hydroelectric project. This association suggests the project may have had components related to agricultural development, such as irrigation systems, rural electrification, or water resource management for agricultural purposes.

**Federal Government of Brazil** (União Federal): The overarching governmental entity with jurisdiction over the law. As a federal statute, the law represents an act of the national government rather than state or municipal authorities.

**Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**: The executive branch entity responsible for promulgating the law. The President's involvement underscores the strategic importance of the infrastructure project.

### Budgetary Context

The law's classification includes "budget" (Orçamento) and "Financial Year" (Exercício Financeiro - Q10278632) as main subjects, situating it within Brazil's budgetary and fiscal framework. This indicates that Law No. 2961 was not merely a policy statement but an operational legal instrument that established specific funding mechanisms for the hydroelectric project.

The inclusion of budget-related subjects reflects how Brazilian federal law is used to direct financial resources toward specific governmental objectives, creating legal commitments for expenditure on designated projects.

### Historical Context

The enactment of Law No. 2961 in 1956 occurred during a period of significant economic transformation in Brazil. The Kubitschek administration pursued a policy of "50 years of progress in 5" (cinquenta anos em cinco), emphasizing rapid industrialization and infrastructure development. Key objectives during this period included:

- Expansion of Brazil's industrial base
- Development of transportation and energy infrastructure
- Creation of new capital city (Brasília)
- Promotion of agricultural modernization
- Attraction of foreign investment

Hydroelectric development fit squarely within this developmentalist agenda, as Brazil sought to expand its electricity generation capacity to support industrial growth and improve living standards. The Uruguay River project represented one component of broader efforts to develop the nation's water resources.

### Accessibility and Legal Status

Law No. 2961/1956 remains accessible through official Brazilian government legal databases:

- The Brazilian Senate maintains the law at: https://legis.senado.leg.br/norma/?numero=2961&tipo_norma=lei&data=19561123&link=s
- The Presidential Legislation database contains the law at: https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=2961&ano=1956&data=23/11/1956&ato=617ITQU90dNRVT812

The law is written in Brazilian Portuguese, reflecting the official language of Brazilian federal legislation. Its continued availability in official databases indicates that it remains part of the active legal framework, though subsequent legislation may have modified or superseded certain provisions.

### Relationship to Broader Legal Framework

As a federal statute, Law No. 2961 exists within Brazil's hierarchical legal system, situated below the Constitution but above decrees, regulations, and other administrative acts. The law would have been subject to constitutional requirements for enactment and would serve as legal authority for subsequent implementing regulations or administrative actions.

The law's focus on hydroelectric development connects it to broader Brazilian energy policy and environmental regulation, though these frameworks have evolved significantly since 1956. Modern Brazilian environmental legislation, such as the National Environmental Policy (Política Nacional do Meio Ambiente) established in 1981, would not have been applicable to this earlier period.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1956-11-23;2961)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=2961&ano=1956&data=23/11/1956&ato=617ITQU90dNRVT812)
3. LexML Brasil