# Law No. 3154 of May 24, 1957

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649705](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649705)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3154-of-may-24-1957

## Summary

Law No. 3154 of May 24, 1957 (Lei nº 3154/1957) is a Brazilian statute enacted by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President Juscelino Kubitschek, authorizing special budgetary credits (Crédito Especial) for the Ministry of Finance. This law represents a formal legislative act within Brazil's statutory framework, published in Rio de Janeiro in Brazilian Portuguese and applicable nationwide under the country's federal jurisdiction.

## Key Facts

- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3154, de 24 de maio de 1957
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3154/1957
- **Enactment Date:** May 24, 1957
- **Promulgating Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **President:** Juscelino Kubitschek (at the point of promulgation)
- **Country of Origin:** Brazil
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (federal)
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Publication Place:** Rio de Janeiro
- **LEXML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-05-24;3154
- **Classification:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Primary Subject:** Special budgetary adjustment (Crédito Especial)
- **Relevant Ministry:** Ministry of Finance of Brazil (Ministério da Fazenda)
- **Official Source URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3154.htm

## FAQs

**What type of legal document is Law No. 3154/1957?**

Law No. 3154 of May 24, 1957 is classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law, encompassing acts, executive orders, and by-laws. In the Brazilian legal system, statutes are the physical expression of legal rules enacted by legislative or executive authority, serving as the official record of legal mandates.

**Who enacted Law No. 3154/1957?**

The law was enacted by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, with President Juscelino Kubitschek responsible for its promulgation on May 24, 1957. Kubitschek served as President of Brazil from 1956 to 1961, a period marked by significant economic development initiatives.

**What is the subject matter of Law No. 3154/1957?**

The law concerns special budgetary adjustments, specifically "Crédito Especial" (special credit), which refers to extraordinary budget authorizations that fall outside the regular annual budget framework. The law pertains to the Ministry of Finance of Brazil (Ministério da Fazenda), indicating its role in fiscal governance and budget management.

**Where can Law No. 3154/1957 be accessed?**

The full text of Law No. 3154/1957 is available through the official Brazilian government legislation portal at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3154.htm. The law is also catalogued in the LEXML Brazilian legal database with the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-05-24;3154.

**How does Law No. 3154/1957 fit into Brazilian law?**

As a federal statute, Law No. 3154/1957 operates within Brazil's hierarchical legal structure, ranking below the Constitution of 1988 but above executive decrees and municipal legislation. It represents an act of legislation that creates binding legal norms within Brazilian federal jurisdiction.

## Why It Matters

Law No. 3154 of May 24, 1957 matters as an example of Brazil's mid-20th century fiscal legislation and demonstrates how the Brazilian government utilized statutory authority to manage extraordinary budgetary needs during a period of significant national development. Enacted during President Juscelino Kubitschek's administration—a era known for ambitious infrastructure projects including the construction of Brasília—the law reflects the legislative mechanisms available to the federal government for addressing financial requirements that exceeded standard budgetary provisions.

The concept of "Crédito Especial" (special credit) represents an important tool in public financial management, allowing governments to address unforeseen expenses or priority investments without waiting for the annual budget cycle. By formalizing this authority through statute, the law contributes to the framework of budgetary legality and fiscal accountability that characterizes democratic governance.

Furthermore, this law exemplifies the broader category of statutes as defined in legal knowledge systems—a formal written document that creates law and serves as the manifestation of statutory law. Understanding specific laws like No. 3154/1957 provides concrete examples of how abstract legal concepts like "statute" and "legislation" operate in practice within the Brazilian legal system.

## Notable For

- **Historical Significance:** Represents Brazilian federal legislation from the Kubitschek administration era (1956-1961), a period of rapid industrialization and modernization in Brazil.
- **Financial Authority:** Demonstrates the use of special budgetary credits (Crédito Especial) as a legislative tool for fiscal management in Brazilian federal governance.
- **Legal Classification:** Serves as a concrete example of the legal concept of a "statute"—a formal written document that creates law within Brazil's civil law tradition.
- **Official Documentation:** Maintains official status as a published federal law accessible through Brazil's presidential legislation portal, demonstrating transparency in legal documentation.
- **Jurisdictional Scope:** Applies to the entire territory of Brazil as a federal statute, distinguishing it from state or municipal legislation.

## Body

### Legislative Context and Enactment

Law No. 3154 of May 24, 1957 was promulgated during a transformative period in Brazilian history. President Juscelino Kubitschek, who served from 1956 to 1961, pursued an ambitious development program centered on the motto "Fifty Years in Five." This era saw substantial investment in infrastructure, including the construction of Brasília, which became the new capital in 1960. The enactment of special budgetary legislation like Law No. 3154/1957 reflects the fiscal mechanisms employed to fund these large-scale development initiatives.

The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, indicating that it originated from executive authority rather than through the standard legislative process of Congress. This pattern is common for budgetary and financial legislation, where executive branch agencies often possess delegated authority to propose and implement fiscal measures.

### Subject Matter: Special Budgetary Credits

The primary subject of Law No. 3154/1957 is "Crédito Especial," or special budgetary credit. In Brazilian public finance law, special credits represent extraordinary authorizations for expenditure that do not fit within the regular budgetary categories or that arise from circumstances not anticipated during the annual budget formulation process. These credits allow the federal government to reallocate funds or access additional resources to address priority needs, emergency situations, or significant policy initiatives.

The law specifically involves the Ministry of Finance (Ministério da Fazenda), the government body responsible for formulating and implementing fiscal policy, managing public debt, and overseeing the national treasury. This connection places Law No. 3154/1957 within the broader context of Brazilian fiscal governance and public financial management.

### Publication and Legal Documentation

Law No. 3154/1957 was published in Rio de Janeiro, which served as Brazil's capital until 1960. The law was officially promulgated on May 24, 1957, establishing its effective date within the Brazilian legal system. The document exists in Brazilian Portuguese, reflecting the official language of legislation throughout Brazil's history since independence in 1822.

The official text is preserved in Brazil's presidential legislation database, accessible through the website of the Presidency of the Republic. This digital preservation ensures public access to the legal text, supporting principles of transparency and legal certainty. The law is catalogued in the LEXML system, Brazil's centralized legal information repository, with the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-05-24;3154.

### Legal Classification and Characteristics

As a federal statute, Law No. 3154/1957 possesses several key characteristics within the Brazilian legal system:

- **Statutory Authority:** The law represents an exercise of legislative power to create binding legal rules, distinct from executive decrees or judicial decisions.
- **Federal Application:** As a federal law, it applies throughout Brazilian territory, superseding state and municipal legislation on matters within its scope.
- **Budgetary Nature:** The law addresses public finance matters, specifically authorization for extraordinary government expenditure.
- **Formal Documentation:** The law exists as a formal written document, meeting the legal requirements for legislative enactment in Brazil.

### Relationship to Broader Legal Concepts

Law No. 3154/1957 exemplifies the general legal concept of a statute—a formal written document that creates law. In knowledge organization systems, statutes are classified as instances of "legal term or legal concept" and as subclasses of "written work," "document," and "rule." This law specifically represents the manifestation of statutory law within Brazil's civil law tradition.

The creation of this statute followed the pattern of "draft laws" being processed through appropriate legislative or executive channels, resulting in the final enacted text. Such statutes function as the official record of legal rules enacted by government authority, providing the concrete legal framework within which citizens, businesses, and government agencies operate.

### Historical Context of Brazilian Legislation

Law No. 3154/1957 was enacted during Brazil's Fourth Republican period (1946-1964), characterized by democratic governance and significant economic development. This era saw substantial legislative activity addressing Brazil's modernization needs, including infrastructure development, industrialization, and institutional modernization.

The Brazilian legislative framework during this period operated under the Constitution of 1946, which established the structure of federal government and the powers of the executive and legislative branches. Budgetary legislation like Law No. 3154/1957 represented one category of federal statutory activity, complementing broader policy legislation and constitutional amendments.

### Access and Legal Research

For legal researchers, scholars, and citizens interested in Brazilian law, Law No. 3154/1957 remains accessible through official government channels. The presidential legislation portal (planalto.gov.br) maintains the complete text of federal laws from this period, supporting historical legal research and contemporary legal practice.

The law's inclusion in the LEXML system, Brazil's legal information infrastructure, ensures its discoverability within broader legal research databases. This systematic cataloguing reflects Brazil's commitment to maintaining accessible, organized legal information that supports the functioning of the legal system and public understanding of the law.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-05-24;3154)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3154&ano=1957&data=24/05/1957&ato=654Qzaq5UMNRVT66d)