# Law No. 3257 of September 2, 1957

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649190](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649190)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3257-of-september-2-1957

## Summary
Law No. 3257 of September 2, 1957 (Lei nº 3257) is a Brazilian statute promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek that functions as a formal legal instrument of the Federative Republic of Brazil. Published in Rio de Janeiro, the law addresses subjects including highway regulation, electrical energy, economic production, and the administrative structuring of Brazilian municipalities and states.

## Key Facts
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 3257, de 2 de setembro de 1957
- **Classification:** Instance of a Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Date of Promulgation:** September 2, 1957
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Signed By:** Juscelino Kubitschek (President)
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3257/1957
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-09-02;3257`
- **Official URL:** Available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3257.htm`
- **Main Subjects:** Highway, Economic Value, Federative Unit of Brazil, Economic Production, Electrical Energy, Legislation, Use, Municipality of Brazil, Creation, Decision, Change, Indemnity.

## FAQs
**Who approved and promulgated Law No. 3257?**
The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil and promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek on September 2, 1957.

**What specific topics does Law No. 3257 cover?**
The statute covers a broad range of subjects including highways (Rodovia), electrical energy (Energia Eletrica), economic production, and the creation or alteration of municipalities and federative units. It also addresses issues of economic value, indemnity, and general legislation application.

**Where was the law officially published and in what language?**
It was published in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in Brazilian Portuguese.

**What is the legal status of this document regarding copyright?**
As a statute, it is a formal written document that creates law. Under the "edict of government doctrine," such official legal documents are generally in the public domain to ensure public accessibility, although specific copyright terms can vary by jurisdiction.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3257 matters as a manifestation of statutory law within the Brazilian legal system, enacted during the administration of Juscelino Kubitschek. It serves as a concrete, written record of legal rules governing critical infrastructure and administrative organization in Brazil. By addressing subjects such as "highway," "electrical energy," and "municipality of Brazil," the law provides the framework for economic development and local governance. As an instance of a "statute," it represents the exercise of government authority and the formal legislative process, ensuring that mandates regarding economic production, indemnity, and administrative changes are documented, accessible, and enforceable. Its inclusion in the WikiProject Brazilian Laws highlights its relevance to the structured documentation of Brazil's legal history.

## Notable For
- **Historical Context:** Promulgated during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, a period known for significant development initiatives like the construction of Brasília.
- **Broad Subject Scope:** Uniquely touches upon diverse subjects ranging from "Highway" and "Electrical Energy" to "Economic Value" and "Indemnity" within a single legal instrument.
- **Digital Accessibility:** Notable for being fully available via the official Planalto government website and indexed under the LexML Brazil system.
- **Public Domain Status:** As an edict of government, it falls under a classification of works generally exempt from copyright restrictions to facilitate public knowledge of the law.

## Body

### Legal Definition and Classification
Law No. 3257 is classified as a **statute**, which is defined as a formal written document that creates law. It acts as a manifestation of statutory law and is distinguished as a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." In the context of legal ontology, it serves as the concrete expression of a legal norm caused by the act of legislation. It is part of the broader concepts of "law" and "legal act."

### Enactment and Authority
The statute was officially approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The determination method was **promulgation**, executed on September 2, 1957. The specific signatory identified with this promulgation is **Juscelino Kubitschek**. The document was published in **Rio de Janeiro**, which was the federal capital at that time (prior to the move to Brasília in 1960). The text is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**.

### Subject Matter and Scope
The law possesses a wide array of main subjects, indicating its comprehensive nature or its role in amending various aspects of Brazilian administration. Key subjects explicitly stated include:
- **Infrastructure:** Highway (Rodovia) and Electrical Energy (Energia Eletrica).
- **Administration:** Municipality of Brazil (Municipios) and Federative Unit of Brazil (Estados).
- **Economics:** Economic Value (Valor) and Economic Production (Produção).
- **Legal Operations:** Legislation (Legislação), Use (Aplicação), Creation (Criação), Decision (Fixação), Change (Alteração), and Indemnity (Indenização).

### Jurisdiction and Geography
The law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil**. Contextually, Brazil is the largest country in South America, a federal republic operating under the Constitution of Brazil. At the time of the law's enactment in 1957, the country was operating under the presidential system led by Juscelino Kubitschek. The law applies to all federative units and municipalities within the national territory.

### Identification and Access
The law is uniquely identified in the Brazilian legal system by the **LexML Brazil ID**: `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-09-02;3257`. It is also legally cited as **Lei nº 3257/1957**. For public access, the work is available at the URL: `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3257.htm`. It is tracked on Wikimedia projects under "WikiProject Brazilian Laws."

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-09-02;3257)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3257&ano=1957&data=02/09/1957&ato=68coXQU9UMNRVT5f3)