# Law No. 3159 of May 30, 1957

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649715](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649715)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3159-of-may-30-1957

## Summary

Law No. 3159 of May 30, 1957 (Lei nº 3159, de 30 de maio de 1957) is a Brazilian federal statute enacted by President Juscelino Kubitschek that addresses matters related to educational institutions, tariff regulations, import taxes, and tax exemptions, particularly concerning the state of Rio de Janeiro and its municipalities. Published in Rio de Janeiro on May 30, 1957, this law represents a formal legislative act creating specific legal provisions within Brazil's federal legal system.

## Key Facts

- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3159, de 30 de maio de 1957
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3159/1957
- **Country:** Brazil
- **Date of Enactment:** May 30, 1957
- **Promulgating Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **President:** Juscelino Kubitschek (at the time of promulgation)
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Instance Of:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Applies To Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **LEXML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-05-30;3159
- **Official Source URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3159.htm
- **Main Subjects:** Educational institution (Instituição Educacional), tariff (Taxa Aduaneira), Rio de Janeiro state, import tax (Imposto De Importação), tax exemption (Isenção), municipality (Municipio)

## FAQs

**What is Law No. 3159 of May 30, 1957?**

Law No. 3159 of May 30, 1957 is a Brazilian federal statute enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek. It is a formal written law that creates specific legal provisions within Brazil's statutory framework, addressing matters related to educational institutions, tariff regulations, import taxes, and tax exemptions.

**What topics does Law No. 3159/1957 regulate?**

The law addresses several interconnected topics: educational institutions (Instituição Educacional), tariff matters (Taxa Aduaneira), import taxes (Imposto De Importação), tax exemptions (Isenção), and provisions relating to the state of Rio de Janeiro and its municipalities. These subjects indicate the law likely established special tax treatment or regulatory frameworks for educational institutions in Rio de Janeiro.

**Who enacted Law No. 3159 of 1957?**

The law was enacted by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, with President Juscelino Kubitschek as the determining authority at the time of promulgation on May 30, 1957. Kubitschek served as President of Brazil from 1956 to 1961.

**What is the legal classification of Law No. 3159/1957?**

The law is classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law. In the Brazilian legal system and international legal taxonomy, statutes are the physical or formal expression of legal rules enacted by legislative or executive authority. The law is part of Brazil's federal legislative corpus from the 1950s.

**Where can Law No. 3159/1957 be accessed?**

The full text of the law is available through the official Brazilian government legislation portal at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3159.htm. The law is also catalogued in the LEXML Brazilian legal database under the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-05-30;3159.

## Why It Matters

Law No. 3159 of May 30, 1957 matters as a representative example of mid-20th century Brazilian federal legislation addressing the intersection of education policy and fiscal regulation. Enacted during Brazil's developmentalist era under President Juscelino Kubitschek—a period characterized by significant economic growth and modernization efforts—the law reflects the government's approach to supporting educational institutions through fiscal mechanisms such as tax exemptions and tariff relief.

The law's focus on Rio de Janeiro, the nation's former capital and then-major educational center, indicates targeted regional support for educational infrastructure. By addressing import taxes and tariffs, the legislation likely facilitated the acquisition of educational materials, equipment, or resources by reducing financial barriers through tax exemptions.

As part of Brazil's statutory corpus, Law No. 3159/1957 contributes to the legal framework governing educational institutions' operations, their fiscal obligations, and their relationship with governmental authorities. The law remains part of Brazil's legislative history and continues to be referenced in legal databases, demonstrating its enduring relevance in the Brazilian legal system despite being over six decades old.

## Notable For

- **Presidential Enactment:** Enacted by President Juscelino Kubitschek during his developmentalist administration (1956-1961)
- **Federal Scope:** Applies to all of Brazil as a federal statute
- **Multi-Subject Regulation:** Addresses educational institutions, tariffs, import taxes, tax exemptions, and municipal matters in a single legislative act
- **Historical Significance:** Represents mid-20th century Brazilian legislative approaches to education and fiscal policy
- **Official Preservation:** Maintained in active government legal databases and official archives
- **Regional Focus:** Specifically addresses matters concerning Rio de Janeiro state and its municipalities

## Body

### Legislative Context and Enactment

Law No. 3159 of May 30, 1957 was enacted during a significant period in Brazilian history. The law emerged during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, who served from 1956 to 1961 and championed a developmentalist agenda focused on industrial growth, infrastructure development, and modernization. The year 1957 represented the second year of Kubitschek's term, a period when Brazil was pursuing ambitious economic expansion plans.

The law was promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil—the executive branch's highest authority—and published in Rio de Janeiro, which served as Brazil's capital until 1960. This publication in the official gazette format established the law's formal entry into Brazil's federal statutory framework.

### Subject Matter and Regulatory Scope

The law addresses multiple interconnected subjects that reveal its regulatory intent:

**Educational Institutions (Instituição Educacional):** The law's provisions relating to educational institutions suggest special treatment or regulatory frameworks for schools, universities, or other teaching establishments. This connection to education reflects the Brazilian government's post-war emphasis on expanding educational access and infrastructure.

**Tariff and Import Tax Regulations (Taxa Aduaneira; Imposto De Importação):** The law contains provisions addressing customs duties and import taxes, indicating it may have facilitated the importation of educational materials, scientific equipment, or other resources necessary for institutional development. Tax exemption mechanisms were likely employed to reduce costs for educational purposes.

**Tax Exemption (Isenção):** The inclusion of tax exemption provisions demonstrates the law's fiscal policy dimension, using tax relief as a tool to support institutional development—particularly for educational purposes.

**Geographic Focus on Rio de Janeiro:** The law specifically references the state of Rio de Janeiro and its municipalities, indicating targeted regional application. Rio de Janeiro was (and remains) a major educational center in Brazil, home to numerous universities and secondary schools.

### Legal Classification and Structure

As a statute, Law No. 3159 represents a formal written document that creates law within Brazil's civil law system. The law is classified as a federal act (lei federal) and forms part of the broader category of statutory law in Brazil. Its instance classification as a "statute" places it within the fundamental legal taxonomy that encompasses acts, executive orders, and by-laws as formal expressions of legal rules.

The law's LEXML identifier (urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-05-30;3159) provides a standardized reference for legal citation and database retrieval within Brazil's digital legal information infrastructure.

### Official Sources and Accessibility

The full text of Law No. 3159/1957 remains accessible through official government channels. The primary source is the Brazilian Presidency's legislation portal (planalto.gov.br), which maintains the complete text of federal laws from the 1950s through the present day. This digital preservation ensures continued public access to Brazil's legislative heritage.

The law is also catalogued in LEXML, Brazil's centralized legal metadata system, which provides structured identifiers and cross-references for Brazilian legislation. This institutional preservation reflects the law's ongoing legal validity within Brazil's statutory framework.

### Relationship to Broader Legal Framework

Law No. 3159 of 1957 exists within Brazil's hierarchical legal structure, subordinate to the federal Constitution (currently the 1988 Constitution, though the law predates this) and superior to state and municipal legislation within its scope of application. As a federal statute, it binds all entities and individuals within Brazilian territory to its provisions.

The law's provisions on educational institutions, tariffs, and tax exemptions connect it to multiple policy domains: education policy, fiscal policy, and administrative law. These intersections demonstrate the integrated nature of Brazilian legislation, where single laws often address multiple policy areas simultaneously.

### Historical and Cultural Context

The enactment of Law No. 3159 in 1957 occurred during a transformative period in Brazilian history. The late 1950s saw significant urbanization, industrialization, and educational expansion throughout the country. Kubitschek's government specifically prioritized education and infrastructure development as pillars of national modernization.

The law's focus on Rio de Janeiro reflects the city's preeminent position in Brazilian education during the mid-20th century. The state hosted numerous prominent universities and technical schools, and targeted legislative support for these institutions aligned with national development priorities.

### Legal Citation and Reference

Law No. 3159/1957 is formally cited as "Lei nº 3159, de 30 de maio de 1957" in Brazilian legal practice. This citation format follows standard Brazilian legislative conventions, using the law number, date, and year to provide unique identification. The law is also referenced by its LEXML identifier and official government portal URL for digital access purposes.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-05-30;3159)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3159&ano=1957&data=30/05/1957&ato=7cdMTQ65UMNRVT0b7)