# Law No. 3122 of April 16, 1957

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649587](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649587)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3122-of-april-16-1957

## Summary
Law No. 3122 of April 16, 1957, is a Brazilian federal statute enacted to authorize a special budgetary adjustment known as a "Credito Especial" for construction projects. This legislation specifically targets the state of Rio Grande do Sul to fund the development of educational institutions and involves the Ministry of Finance of Brazil. It was promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek and remains a formal written document within the Brazilian legal system.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3122, de 16 de abril de 1957
- **Legal Classification:** Statute (formal written document creating law)
- **Date of Enactment:** April 16, 1957
- **Country of Origin:** Brazil (Federative Republic of Brazil)
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Promulgating President:** Juscelino Kubitschek
- **Primary Subject:** Special budgetary adjustment (Credito Especial)
- **Specific Focus Areas:** Construction (Construção), Educational Institutions (Estabelecimento De Ensino)
- **Target Jurisdiction:** State of Rio Grande do Sul (Estado Do Rio Grande Do Sul)
- **Involved Government Body:** Ministry of Finance of Brazil (Ministerio Da Fazenda)
- **Scope of Application:** Municipalities (Municipio) within the specified jurisdiction
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro
- **LexML Brazil Identifier:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-04-16;3122
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3122/1957
- **Official Online Source:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3122.htm
- **Reference Source:** https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3122&ano=1957&data=16/04/1957&ato=84fATTq5UMNRVTe4d
- **Reference Source (LexML):** https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-04-16;3122

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 3122?**
The law serves to authorize a special budgetary adjustment, specifically a "Credito Especial," to fund construction projects. Its main objective is to support the development of educational institutions within the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

**Who was responsible for enacting this legislation?**
The statute was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under the administration of President Juscelino Kubitschek. It was officially promulgated on April 16, 1957, in Rio de Janeiro.

**Which regions and government bodies are affected by this law?**
The legislation applies specifically to the state of Rio Grande do Sul and impacts municipalities within that region. It involves the Ministry of Finance of Brazil in the management of the special budgetary adjustment.

**How can researchers access the full text of this statute?**
The official text is available in Brazilian Portuguese through the Planalto government portal at the provided URL. It is also indexed in the LexML Brazil system under the unique identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-04-16;3122.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3122 of April 16, 1957, represents a specific instance of fiscal federalism in Brazil, demonstrating how the central government allocates special funds to regional development projects. By targeting educational infrastructure in Rio Grande do Sul, the statute highlights the historical prioritization of education and construction in the country's mid-20th-century policy agenda. As a formal statute, it serves as a binding legal instrument that mandates the Ministry of Finance to execute specific budgetary adjustments, ensuring that funds are legally designated for these public works. Its existence provides a concrete record of the legislative priorities during the Kubitschek administration, reflecting the era's focus on modernization and regional investment.

## Notable For
- **Specific Budgetary Mechanism:** It is a distinct legal instrument authorizing a "Credito Especial" rather than a general appropriation.
- **Regional Focus:** It uniquely targets the State of Rio Grande do Sul for specific construction and educational funding.
- **Educational Mandate:** The law explicitly links budgetary adjustments to the construction of educational institutions.
- **Historical Context:** It was enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, a period known for significant infrastructure development in Brazil.
- **Digital Preservation:** The law is fully digitized and accessible via the official LexML Brazil repository and the Planalto website.
- **Legal Citation Standard:** It follows the standard Brazilian citation format of "Lei nº 3122/1957."

## Body

### Definition and Legal Classification
Law No. 3122 of April 16, 1957, is classified as a **statute**, which is a formal written document that creates law. In the Brazilian legal taxonomy, it functions as an instance of a "legal term or legal concept" and serves as the manifestation of statutory law. As a statute, it encompasses the characteristics of an act passed by the legislature, distinguishing it from general legal concepts by its status as a concrete, written rule. The document is part of the broader category of "written work" and "document," and it operates as a specific "legal norm" within the Brazilian legal framework.

### Enactment and Promulgation Details
The statute was formally approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The specific act of promulgation occurred on **April 16, 1957**, under the leadership of President **Juscelino Kubitschek**. The document was published in **Rio de Janeiro**, which served as the federal capital at the time. The legal citation for this text is **Lei nº 3122/1957**, and it is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**. The creation of this law followed the standard legislative process, where draft laws were processed and enacted through the act of legislation.

### Subject Matter and Scope
The primary subject of Law No. 3122 is a **special budgetary adjustment**, technically referred to as a "Credito Especial." This financial mechanism was established to fund specific projects rather than general government operations. The law explicitly identifies **construction** ("Construção") as a key activity to be funded. Furthermore, it designates **educational institutions** ("Estabelecimento De Ensino") as the specific beneficiaries of these construction efforts. The legislation also involves the **Ministry of Finance of Brazil** ("Ministerio Da Fazenda"), indicating the administrative body responsible for managing these funds. The scope of the law extends to **municipalities** ("Municipio") within the designated region.

### Geographic and Jurisdictional Application
The statute applies exclusively to the jurisdiction of **Brazil**, with a specific focus on the **State of Rio Grande do Sul** ("Estado Do Rio Grande Do Sul"). This regional targeting indicates that the budgetary adjustment was intended to address local needs within this specific state. The law does not apply to the entire federation uniformly but is tailored to the administrative and developmental requirements of Rio Grande do Sul. This jurisdictional specificity is a defining characteristic of the statute, distinguishing it from federal laws of general application.

### Digital Identification and Access
The law is preserved and accessible through several digital repositories and authority control systems. The **LexML Brazil** system assigns it the unique identifier **urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-04-16;3122**. The full text is available online via the official Planalto website at **https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3122.htm**. Additional references for the document can be found at **https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3122&ano=1957&data=16/04/1957&ato=84fATTq5UMNRVTe4d** and **https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-04-16;3122**. These digital assets ensure that the statute remains accessible to legal professionals, historians, and the public.

### Context within the Brazilian Legal System
As a federal law enacted in 1957, this statute is part of the historical legislative corpus of the Federative Republic of Brazil. It reflects the administrative structure of the time, where the Presidency held significant authority in promulgating laws. The involvement of the Ministry of Finance underscores the fiscal nature of the legislation. The law stands as a testament to the specific policy decisions made during the mid-20th century, particularly regarding the allocation of resources for education and infrastructure in the southern region of the country. Its classification as a statute ensures its validity and enforceability as a written legal rule.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-04-16;3122)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3122&ano=1957&data=16/04/1957&ato=84fATTq5UMNRVTe4d)