# Law No. 3218 of July 19, 1957

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649311](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649311)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3218-of-july-19-1957

## Summary
**Law No. 3218 of July 19, 1957** (Portuguese: *Lei nº 3218, de 19 de julho de 1957*) is a Brazilian statute that authorizes a special budgetary adjustment (Crédito Especial) for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek and published in Rio de Janeiro, it serves as a formal legal instrument of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3218, de 19 de julho de 1957
- **Type of Instrument:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Date of Publication:** July 19, 1957
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Signed By:** Juscelino Kubitschek (President)
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro
- **Primary Subject:** Special budgetary adjustment (*Credito Especial*)
- **Beneficiary Entity:** Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil (*Itamarati (Mre)*)
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3218/1957
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-07-19;3218`
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3218.htm
- **Copyright Status:** Public Domain (per edict of government doctrine)

## FAQs
**What is the specific purpose of Law No. 3218?**
The law authorizes a "special budgetary adjustment" (referred to as *Credito Especial*) specifically for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil (*Itamarati*). It is a financial legislative act rather than a regulatory one.

**Who signed and enacted this law?**
The law was enacted via promulgation by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, with President Juscelino Kubitschek serving as the head of state at the time on July 19, 1957.

**Where was the law officially published?**
The law was published in Rio de Janeiro. Although the capital of Brazil moved to Brasília in 1960, Rio de Janeiro remained a central hub for federal publications in 1957.

**Is this law subject to copyright restrictions?**
No. As a statute and official legal document of the Brazilian government, it falls under the "edict of government doctrine" (and equivalent concepts in Brazil and France), placing it in the public domain. It is freely accessible to the public.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3218 of July 1957 is a specific example of the statutory mechanisms used by the Brazilian government to manage state finances, particularly concerning foreign relations. Enacted during the administration of Juscelino Kubitschek—a period marked by rapid modernization and industrialization—it illustrates the procedural requirements for allocating special funds outside the standard budget. As a statute, it represents the tangible manifestation of statutory law in Brazil, serving as a primary source for legal research and governmental history. Its existence highlights the administrative operations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamarati) during the late 1950s.

## Notable For
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, one of Brazil's most significant political figures associated with the construction of Brasília and economic development.
- **Specific Allocation:** It is notable for its specific focus on the *Ministry of Foreign Affairs* (Itamarati), providing a "special credit" rather than a general appropriation.
- **Pre-Brasília Era:** The law was published in Rio de Janeiro, identifying it as a product of the Republican period prior to the definitive transfer of the federal capital to Brasília in 1960.
- **Public Accessibility:** It is indexed under the Lexml system and available via the official Planalto Palace website, ensuring transparent access to historical legislation.

## Body

### Legislative Identity and Definition
Law No. 3218 of July 19, 1957, is legally classified as a **statute**. In the context of Brazilian and international law, a statute is defined as a formal written document enacted to create law. It functions as a concrete manifestation of statutory law and is distinguished from broader concepts like "legislation" or abstract legal acts. As a statute, it is considered a subclass of a "written work," "document," and "rule." It is part of the broader body of laws of the **Federative Republic of Brazil** and is identified in legal databases via the Lexml ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-07-19;3218`.

### Subject Matter and Function
The primary function of this law is to authorize a **special budgetary adjustment** (statutorily termed *Credito Especial*).
- **Main Subject:** The law addresses specific financial needs of the **Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil** (referred to in the text as *Itamarati (Mre)*).
- **Operation:** It operates as a legal norm that creates the authority for this specific financial disbursement.
- **Relation to Brazil:** The law explicitly applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil**, serving as an instrument of the federal government.

### Enactment and Authority
The statute was officially approved and promulgated on **July 19, 1957**.
- **Authority:** The enacting body was the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**.
- **Signatory:** The determination method was promulgation signed by **Juscelino Kubitschek**, who was the President of Brazil at that time.
- **Location of Publication:** The official place of publication was **Rio de Janeiro**.

### Context of the Jurisdiction (Brazil)
The law operates within the legal framework of **Brazil**, the largest country in South America.
- **Government System:** At the time of enactment, Brazil was a federal republic with a presidential system.
- **Historical Era:** The law was enacted in 1957, roughly 135 years after Brazil declared independence from Portugal on September 7, 1822.
- **Capital Context:** While the law was published in Rio de Janeiro, the country was in the process of transitioning its capital; the Constitution of Brazil in effect was that of 1946 (preceding the 1988 Constitution currently in force).
- **Language:** The work is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**, the official language of the country.

### Access and Classification
Law No. 3218 is an official document available for public access.
- **Official Source:** The text is available at the official government URL: `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3218.htm`.
- **Legal Citation:** It is cited as *Lei nº 3218/1957*.
- **Copyright Status:** Consistent with the "edict of government doctrine," this statute is in the **public domain**. This ensures that the legal rules governing the public are freely owned by the public and unrestricted by copyright.
- **WikiProject:** It is listed on the "WikiProject Brazilian Laws," indicating its relevance in structured knowledge and legal data organization.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-07-19;3218)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3218&ano=1957&data=19/07/1957&ato=37bITSE9UMNRVT81e)