# Law No. 3231 of July 29, 1957

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648962](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648962)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3231-of-july-29-1957

## Summary
Law No. 3231 of July 29, 1957, is a Brazilian statute enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, focusing on special budgetary adjustments for the Ministry of Education. This law represents a formal legislative act that addresses financial allocations and expenditures within Brazil's federal government, specifically targeting educational funding mechanisms.

## Key Facts
- **Title:** Lei nº 3231, de 29 de julho de 1957
- **Type:** Brazilian federal statute (lei)
- **Approval Date:** July 29, 1957
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil (President Juscelino Kubitschek)
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies to Brazil
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Main Subjects:** Special budgetary adjustment (Credito Especial), Ministry of Education (Ministerio Da Educação), expense (Despesa)
- **Publication Location:** Rio de Janeiro (then capital of Brazil)
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3231/1957
- **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-07-29;3231
- **Official Text Available At:** [https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3231.htm](https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3231.htm)
- **WikiProject:** WikiProject Brazilian Laws
- **Classification:** Instance of "statute" (formal written document creating law)
- **Related Legal Concepts:** Part of statutory law, created through legislation, manifestation of legal norms

## FAQs

**What is the purpose of Law No. 3231 of July 29, 1957?**
Law No. 3231 of 1957 serves as a special budgetary adjustment measure, specifically addressing financial allocations for Brazil's Ministry of Education. It represents a legislative mechanism to authorize special credits (Credito Especial) for educational expenses, reflecting the government's prioritization of education funding during President Juscelino Kubitschek's administration.

**Who approved Law No. 3231 and when was it enacted?**
The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President Juscelino Kubitschek on July 29, 1957. It was promulgated in Rio de Janeiro, which served as Brazil's capital at that time before the transfer to Brasília in 1960.

**What specific areas does this law address?**
The statute focuses on three main subjects: special budgetary adjustments (Credito Especial), the Ministry of Education (Ministerio Da Educação), and general expense allocations (Despesa). It provides the legal framework for managing special financial credits within the educational sector.

**Where can the official text of this law be accessed?**
The complete official text of Law No. 3231/1957 is available through Brazil's federal legislation portal at [https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3231.htm](https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3231.htm). It is also referenced in the LexML Brazil legal information system under the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-07-29;3231.

**How does this law fit into Brazil's legal system?**
As a federal statute (lei), this law represents a formal written document that creates binding legal norms within Brazil's statutory law framework. It was created through the legislative process and serves as an official manifestation of legal rules governing budgetary allocations for education.

**What was the historical context of this law's creation?**
The law was enacted during Juscelino Kubitschek's presidency (1956-1961), a period marked by significant economic development and infrastructure projects in Brazil. Known for his "Plano de Metas" (Targets Plan), Kubitschek prioritized education as part of his broader modernization efforts, making this budgetary adjustment law part of his administration's educational funding strategy.

## Why It Matters

Law No. 3231 of July 29, 1957, represents an important historical document in Brazil's educational funding framework. As a special budgetary adjustment measure, it demonstrates the federal government's commitment to allocating resources for education during a period of national development. The law matters because it provides the legal basis for special financial credits to the Ministry of Education, ensuring that educational initiatives could receive necessary funding outside regular budgetary cycles.

This statute is particularly significant within the context of Juscelino Kubitschek's administration, which emphasized modernization and development across various sectors. By creating this legal mechanism for special educational funding, the law contributed to Brazil's efforts to expand and improve its education system during the mid-20th century. The law's existence also reflects the broader legislative process in Brazil, where specific budgetary adjustments require formal statutory authorization.

As part of Brazil's legal heritage, Law No. 3231 serves as a historical reference point for understanding how educational funding was managed during this period. Its preservation in official legal databases ensures that researchers, policymakers, and citizens can access this piece of legislative history, contributing to transparency and accountability in public financial management.

## Notable For

- **Historical Educational Funding:** One of the specific budgetary adjustment laws enacted during President Juscelino Kubitschek's administration (1956-1961)
- **Special Credit Mechanism:** Establishes legal framework for "Credito Especial" (special credits) in Brazil's educational budgeting
- **Ministry of Education Focus:** Directly addresses funding allocations for Brazil's Ministry of Education
- **Presidential Era Document:** Represents legislative output from Kubitschek's developmentalist government period
- **Rio de Janeiro Enactment:** One of the last major educational laws promulgated before Brazil's capital moved to Brasília in 1960
- **LexML Integration:** Cataloged in Brazil's comprehensive legal information system with permanent identifier
- **Digital Preservation:** Complete text available through official federal government portals
- **WikiProject Inclusion:** Part of WikiProject Brazilian Laws, indicating its significance in legal documentation efforts

## Body

### Legislative Context and Creation

Law No. 3231 of July 29, 1957, was created through Brazil's federal legislative process during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek. The law represents a specific type of statute known as a "special budgetary adjustment," which in Brazilian legal terminology is referred to as "Credito Especial." This legislative mechanism allows for financial allocations outside the regular budgetary process when special circumstances require additional funding.

The law was promulgated in Rio de Janeiro, which served as Brazil's capital until April 22, 1960, when the federal government officially relocated to Brasília. This places Law No. 3231 among the final major legislative acts issued from Rio de Janeiro before the capital transfer. The promulgation occurred through standard presidential approval procedures, with President Kubitschek signing the law into effect.

### Content and Scope

The statute focuses on three primary subjects that define its scope and application:

1. **Special Budgetary Adjustment (Credito Especial):** The law establishes the legal framework for special credit allocations, which are extraordinary budgetary measures used when regular funding mechanisms prove insufficient for specific governmental needs.

2. **Ministry of Education (Ministerio Da Educação):** The law specifically targets financial allocations for Brazil's Ministry of Education, indicating the government's priority on educational funding during this period.

3. **Expense Allocations (Despesa):** The statute addresses the broader category of governmental expenses, providing the legal authority for specific financial expenditures related to education.

This combination of subjects indicates that Law No. 3231 served as a mechanism to authorize special funding for educational initiatives that required financial resources beyond what was available through regular budgetary channels.

### Historical and Political Significance

The law was enacted during a transformative period in Brazilian history. Juscelino Kubitschek's presidency (1956-1961) was characterized by the "Plano de Metas" (Targets Plan), an ambitious development program that aimed to modernize Brazil's infrastructure and economy. Education was a key component of this development strategy, as the government recognized the importance of an educated workforce for national progress.

Law No. 3231 reflects this developmentalist approach by providing the legal framework for special educational funding. The law's creation demonstrates how Kubitschek's administration used legislative tools to support its policy priorities, particularly in areas requiring immediate or additional financial resources.

### Legal Classification and Structure

As a federal statute (lei), Law No. 3231 represents a formal written document that creates binding legal norms within Brazil's statutory law framework. It follows the standard structure of Brazilian legislation:

- **Title and Identification:** Clearly identified as "Lei nº 3231, de 29 de julho de 1957"
- **Approval Information:** Specifies presidential approval by Juscelino Kubitschek
- **Publication Details:** Published in Rio de Janeiro on July 29, 1957
- **Legal Citation Format:** Standardized as "Lei nº 3231/1957" for legal references
- **Subject Matter Organization:** Structured around the three main subjects (special credits, education ministry, expenses)

The law's classification as a statute places it within the broader category of legal documents that include acts, executive orders, and by-laws. It serves as a concrete manifestation of statutory law, providing the official record of legal rules enacted by the Brazilian government.

### Documentation and Accessibility

Law No. 3231 benefits from comprehensive documentation and digital preservation:

- **Official Text Availability:** The complete law is accessible through Brazil's federal legislation portal at [https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3231.htm](https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3231.htm)
- **LexML Integration:** The law is cataloged in Brazil's LexML legal information system with the permanent identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-07-29;3231
- **WikiProject Inclusion:** Recognized as part of WikiProject Brazilian Laws, indicating its significance in legal documentation efforts
- **Language:** Written in Brazilian Portuguese, the official language of Brazil's legal system

This comprehensive documentation ensures that the law remains accessible to researchers, legal professionals, and the general public, contributing to transparency in Brazil's legislative history.

### Relationship to Broader Legal Framework

Law No. 3231 operates within Brazil's complex legal and budgetary framework:

- **Budgetary Law Context:** The law represents a specific type of budgetary adjustment mechanism within Brazil's public financial management system
- **Educational Funding Framework:** Contributes to the legal basis for funding Brazil's Ministry of Education
- **Presidential Legislative Output:** Forms part of Juscelino Kubitschek's legislative record and developmentalist policy implementation
- **Federal Statute Classification:** Serves as an example of how specific financial needs are addressed through targeted legislation

The law's existence demonstrates how Brazil's legal system accommodates special financial requirements through dedicated statutory instruments, ensuring that critical sectors like education can receive necessary funding even when regular budgetary allocations prove insufficient.

### Comparative Legal Analysis

When compared to other Brazilian statutes of the same period, Law No. 3231 exhibits several characteristic features:

- **Specialized Focus:** Unlike comprehensive education laws, this statute addresses a specific financial mechanism rather than broad educational policy
- **Temporary Nature:** As a special credit law, it likely had a defined period of applicability rather than creating permanent legal structures
- **Executive Initiative:** Reflects the executive branch's priority on education funding during Kubitschek's administration
- **Budgetary Flexibility:** Provides the legal basis for financial flexibility in educational funding

This comparative analysis helps understand how Law No. 3231 fits within the spectrum of Brazilian educational legislation, serving a specific financial function rather than establishing comprehensive educational policies.

### Contemporary Relevance

While Law No. 3231 was enacted over six decades ago, it maintains contemporary relevance in several ways:

- **Historical Reference:** Serves as a documented example of how educational funding was managed during Brazil's developmentalist period
- **Legal Precedent:** Provides insight into the legal mechanisms used for special budgetary adjustments
- **Policy Analysis:** Offers material for analyzing Kubitschek's educational funding strategies
- **Archival Value:** Contributes to the complete record of Brazil's legislative history

The law's preservation in digital formats ensures that it remains accessible for historical research, legal analysis, and educational policy studies, maintaining its value as part of Brazil's legal heritage.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-07-29;3231)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3231&ano=1957&data=29/07/1957&ato=374kXVE9UMNRVT454)