# Law No. 3131 of May 8, 1957

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649640](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649640)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3131-of-may-8-1957

## Summary
Law No. 3131 of May 8, 1957, is a Brazilian federal statute enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek that addresses special budgetary adjustments and the organization of Regional Labor Courts. This formal written document, classified as a statute, serves as a specific legal instrument within the Brazilian judiciary system, establishing rules for "Credito Especial" (Special Credit) and the "Justiça Do Trabalho" (Labor Court). It remains a foundational piece of legislation in Brazilian labor and fiscal law, published in Rio de Janeiro and accessible through official government archives.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3131, de 8 de maio de 1957.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3131/1957.
- **Publication Date:** May 8, 1957.
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- **Country of Origin:** Brazil (Federative Republic of Brazil).
- **Instance Of:** Statute (a formal written document that creates law).
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Promulgated By:** Juscelino Kubitschek (serving as President on the date of approval).
- **Main Subjects:** Special budgetary adjustment (stated as "Credito Especial"), Regional Labor Courts ("Tribunal Regional Do Trabalho" or TRT), Judiciary ("Judiciario"), and Labor Court ("Justiça Do Trabalho").
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-05-08;3131.
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3131.htm.
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies exclusively to Brazil.
- **Wikidata Description:** Brazilian law.

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 3131/1957?**
The law primarily functions to authorize special budgetary adjustments, specifically known as "Credito Especial," and to regulate the structure and operation of Regional Labor Courts within the Brazilian judiciary. It serves as a legislative tool to manage fiscal resources and define the scope of labor justice institutions.

**Who was responsible for enacting this statute?**
The statute was approved and promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under the leadership of President Juscelino Kubitschek on May 8, 1957. It represents an executive and legislative action taken during his administration to address specific judicial and budgetary needs.

**Where can the full text of this law be accessed?**
The official text is available online via the Brazilian government's Planalto portal at the specific URL provided for laws from 1950 to 1969. Additionally, it is indexed in the LexML Brazil system, which provides a unique identifier for the document to ensure accurate citation and retrieval.

**Does this law apply to jurisdictions outside of Brazil?**
No, the law applies strictly to the jurisdiction of Brazil, as it is a federal statute enacted by the Brazilian government. It governs domestic matters regarding the national budget and the organization of the country's labor court system.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3131 of May 8, 1957, is significant because it provides the legal framework for managing special budgetary credits and structuring the labor judiciary in Brazil during a critical period of economic and social development. By defining the parameters for "Credito Especial," the law enables the government to make necessary fiscal adjustments that support public administration and judicial operations. Furthermore, its focus on Regional Labor Courts ensures that the mechanisms for resolving labor disputes are legally grounded, contributing to the stability of the Brazilian labor market. As a statute, it represents the tangible manifestation of statutory law, serving as an authoritative reference for courts, legal professionals, and government administrators. Its inclusion in major legal databases and its status as a public domain document ensure that the rules governing these essential institutions remain accessible to the public, reinforcing the principles of transparency and the rule of law in Brazil.

## Notable For
- **Specific Fiscal Mechanism:** It is the specific legislative instrument authorizing "Credito Especial" (Special Credit) adjustments in the 1957 Brazilian budget.
- **Labor Judiciary Structure:** It explicitly defines and regulates the "Tribunal Regional Do Trabalho" (Regional Labor Courts), a key component of the Brazilian justice system.
- **Historical Context:** It was enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, a period known for significant industrial and infrastructure development in Brazil.
- **Unique Identifier:** It holds the distinct LexML Brazil identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-05-08;3131`, facilitating precise digital citation.
- **Dual Focus:** It uniquely combines fiscal management (budgetary adjustments) with judicial organization (labor courts) in a single legislative act.
- **Official Publication:** It was officially published in Rio de Janeiro, which served as the capital of Brazil at the time of its enactment.
- **Language Specificity:** It is a primary source document written in Brazilian Portuguese, serving as a reference for legal translation and interpretation.

## Body

### Definition and Legal Classification
Law No. 3131 of May 8, 1957, is classified as a **statute**, which is defined as a formal written document that creates law. As a statute, it falls under the broader category of "written work" and "document," functioning as the concrete manifestation of statutory law. It is an instance of a legal term and concept, distinct from general legislation but created through the legislative process. The law serves as a specific legal instrument within the Brazilian federal system, embodying the authority of the state to enact binding rules. Its classification aligns with the `https://schema.org/Legislation` class used in structured data, ensuring it is recognized as a valid legal entity in digital knowledge graphs.

### Historical Context and Enactment
The statute was approved on **May 8, 1957**, during the administration of President **Juscelino Kubitschek**. At the time of its publication, the capital of Brazil was **Rio de Janeiro**, where the law was officially released. This period in Brazilian history was marked by rapid modernization and infrastructure projects, necessitating flexible budgetary mechanisms and a robust judicial system to handle labor disputes arising from industrial growth. The law was promulgated by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**, signifying the executive branch's role in finalizing the legislative act. The date of publication is recorded as 1957-05-08, and the document remains a historical record of the legal framework governing the nation during the late 1950s.

### Main Subjects and Scope
The law addresses two primary areas of public administration and justice:
1.  **Special Budgetary Adjustment:** The statute explicitly deals with "Credito Especial" (Special Credit). This mechanism allows for specific budgetary adjustments, likely to address unforeseen expenditures or to fund specific government initiatives that were not covered in the original budget.
2.  **Labor Judiciary:** The law focuses on the **Regional Labor Courts** (Tribunal Regional Do Trabalho or TRT) and the broader **Labor Court** system (Justiça Do Trabalho). It also encompasses the **Judiciary** (Judiciario) as a whole, providing the legal basis for the organization and functioning of these courts. By defining the scope of these institutions, the law ensures that labor disputes are adjudicated within a structured legal framework.

### Digital Identity and Authority Control
Law No. 3131 is meticulously indexed in global and national knowledge bases to ensure accurate retrieval and citation:
-   **LexML Brazil:** The law is assigned the unique Uniform Resource Name (URN) `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-05-08;3131`. This identifier is crucial for legal professionals and researchers to locate the exact text within the Brazilian legal ecosystem.
-   **Wikidata:** The entity is described as a "Brazilian law" and is linked to various properties including its title, date, and jurisdiction.
-   **Official Web Presence:** The full text is hosted on the official Planalto website at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3131.htm`, ensuring public access to the primary source.
-   **Citation Standard:** The standard legal citation for this text is "Lei nº 3131/1957," which is used in legal documents, academic papers, and court rulings.

### Jurisdiction and Language
The statute applies exclusively to the **Federative Republic of Brazil**, governing matters within its national borders. The language of the work is **Brazilian Portuguese**, reflecting the official language of the country. As a federal law, it holds authority over all states and municipalities within the Brazilian territory. The law's jurisdiction is limited to the Brazilian legal system, meaning it does not have direct legal force in other nations, although it may be referenced in international legal contexts involving Brazilian labor or fiscal matters.

### Relationship to Broader Legal Concepts
This law is a specific example of a **statute**, which is a subclass of "written work" and "rule." It is part of the broader concept of **statutory law**, which is created through the process of **legislation**. The statute is composed of **legal norms** and is a part of the **legal act** category. It follows the creation of **draft laws** and is the result of the legislative process. In the context of copyright, as an official legal document of the Brazilian government, it is generally considered to be in the **public domain**, ensuring that the public has unrestricted access to the laws they must follow. This aligns with the "edict of government doctrine" found in many jurisdictions, which exempts official legal texts from copyright protection.

### Technical and Metadata Details
The metadata associated with Law No. 3131 includes specific qualifiers and references:
-   **Promulgation Date:** 1957-05-08.
-   **Determination Method:** Promulgation by the Presidency.
-   **References:** The law is referenced in sources such as the LexML Brazil portal and the Presidency's legislative archive.
-   **Wikimedia Project:** It is on the focus list of the WikiProject Brazilian Laws, indicating its importance to the open knowledge community.
-   **SEO Data:** While specific SEO data is not currently available, the structured properties ensure the law is discoverable through legal search engines and government databases.

### Impact on Brazilian Labor and Fiscal Systems
By establishing rules for **Special Credit** and **Regional Labor Courts**, Law No. 3131 played a vital role in the administration of the Brazilian state in 1957. It allowed the government to manage its finances more flexibly while ensuring that the labor judiciary had the legal backing to function effectively. The law's provisions regarding the Labor Court system helped standardize the resolution of labor disputes, contributing to social stability during a time of rapid economic change. Its continued existence in the legal corpus serves as a historical record of how Brazil managed its fiscal and judicial responsibilities in the mid-20th century.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-05-08;3131)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3131&ano=1957&data=08/05/1957&ato=fc7kXVq5UMNRVT970)