# Law No. 3118 of March 25, 1957

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649080](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649080)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3118-of-march-25-1957

## Summary
Law No. 3118 of March 25, 1957, is a Brazilian federal statute that addresses the rights of a former soldier, José Luiz Filho. It specifically deals with the reinstatement of his right to a disability pension, which had been subject to a statute of limitations. The law was promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek and is part of the corpus of Brazilian legislation from the 1950s.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3118, de 25 de março de 1957
- **Date of Publication:** March 25, 1957
- **Country of Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **Legal Type:** Instance of a statute (a formal written document that creates law)
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Promulgated by:** President Juscelino Kubitschek on March 25, 1957
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro (the capital at the time)
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Main Subject:** Rights (stated as "Direitos")
- **Legal Digest:** "RELEVA A PRESCRIÇÃO EM QUE INCORREU O DIREITO A REFORMA POR INCAPACIDADE FISICA, DO EX-SOLDADO JOSE LUIZ FILHO." (It relieves the statute of limitations that had applied to the right to a disability pension for the former soldier José Luiz Filho.)
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3118/1957
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3118.htm
- **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-03-25;3118
- **Wikidata Description:** Brazilian law
- **Wikimedia Project:** Part of the focus list for WikiProject Brazilian Laws

## FAQs

**What is the specific purpose of Law No. 3118/1957?**
This law reinstates the right to a disability pension for a specific individual, the former soldier José Luiz Filho. It legally overrides the statute of limitations that had previously extinguished his claim to this pension due to physical incapacity.

**Who approved this law and when?**
The law was promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, with President Juscelino Kubitschek signing it into effect on March 25, 1957. The act of promulgation formally enacted the statute on that date.

**How can I access the full text of this law?**
The official text of Law No. 3118/1957 is available online through the Brazilian government's portal at planalto.gov.br. It is also cataloged in the LexML Brasil system, a repository for Brazilian legislation, under the unique identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-03-25;3118`.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3118/1957 matters because it exemplifies the exercise of sovereign power to correct a specific individual injustice. By legislatively reversing the statute of limitations for a former soldier's pension rights, the Brazilian government demonstrated its capacity to provide remedial justice outside the standard judicial process. This law highlights the direct impact legislation can have on citizens' lives, particularly concerning social security and veterans' benefits. Its existence underscores the principle that the state can intervene to uphold rights even when procedural time limits have expired, reflecting a commitment to equity and welfare for those who served the nation.

## Notable For
- **Specific Remedial Action:** It is a law designed to address a single, specific case of a former soldier's lapsed pension rights.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, a key figure in Brazilian history known for his developmentalist policies.
- **Legal Precision:** The law's digest is highly specific, naming the beneficiary (José Luiz Filho) and the exact legal impediment (statute of limitations) it sought to overcome.

## Body

### Identity and Classification
Law No. 3118 of March 25, 1957, is formally classified as a **statute**. A statute is defined as a formal written document that creates law, encompassing acts, executive orders, and by-laws. As such, this law is a manifestation of statutory law within the Brazilian legal system. It is an instance of the broader class "statute," which is itself a subclass of written work, document, and rule.

### Content and Purpose
The law's core purpose is detailed in its legal digest: to relieve the statute of limitations that had applied to the right of a disability pension for the former soldier **José Luiz Filho**. This indicates the law was a remedial act, specifically addressing a lapse in a statutory time bar that had prevented the individual from claiming his pension due to physical incapacity. The main subject of the law is categorized as "rights" (Direitos).

### Promulgation and Publication
The statute was **approved by** the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The act of promulgation was carried out by President **Juscelino Kubitschek** on **March 25, 1957**. The law was published in **Rio de Janeiro**, which was the capital of Brazil at the time, before the seat of government moved to Brasília in 1960. The official date of publication is recorded as **1957-03-25**.

### Jurisdiction and Accessibility
Law No. 3118/1957 **applies to the jurisdiction** of Brazil, meaning it is a federal law with nationwide effect. The official text is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**. The law is made accessible to the public via its official URL on the Brazilian government's website (`planalto.gov.br`). It is also formally registered in the **LexML Brasil** system with the standardized identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-03-25;3118`.

### Context within the Brazilian Legal System
As a federal law, it is part of the body of legislation enacted by the National Congress of Brazil. It falls within the chronological period of **1950-1969** in the official legislative classification on the planalto.gov.br portal. The law is included in the scope of **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, a Wikimedia project dedicated to systematically documenting Brazilian legislation.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-03-25;3118)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3118&ano=1957&data=25/03/1957&ato=af9ETSq5UMNRVT065)
3. LexML Brasil