# Law No. 3273 of October 1, 1957

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649070](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649070)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3273-of-october-1-1957

## Summary
Law No. 3273 of October 1, 1957, is a Brazilian federal statute that officially fixed the date for the transfer of the national capital to the Federal District and established related administrative provisions. Enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, this law serves as the legal instrument that formalized the relocation of Brazil's seat of government from Rio de Janeiro to the newly constructed city of Brasília. It is classified as a statute and remains a foundational document in the history of Brazilian urban planning and federal administration.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3273, de 1 de outubro de 1957 (Law No. 3273, of October 1, 1957).
- **Publication Date:** October 1, 1957.
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- **Country of Jurisdiction:** Brazil (Federative Republic of Brazil).
- **Legal Classification:** Statute (a formal written document creating law).
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Promulgated By:** Juscelino Kubitschek (President at the time).
- **Primary Subject Matter:** Fixation of the date for the change of the Federal Capital and other provisions.
- **Main Subjects:** Decision (Fixation), Highway (Rodovia), Calendar Date (Data), Transfer (Transferencia), Addition (Inclusão).
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3273/1957.
- **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-10-01;3273.
- **Official Online Source:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l3273.htm.
- **Legislative Reference Source:** https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3273&ano=1957&data=01/10/1957&ato=b08ETTU9UMNRVT000.
- **LexML Reference Source:** https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-10-01;3273.

## FAQs
**What was the primary purpose of Law No. 3273?**
The law's main objective was to legally establish the specific date for the transfer of Brazil's federal capital from Rio de Janeiro to the Federal District. It also included additional administrative provisions necessary to facilitate this major geopolitical shift.

**Who was responsible for enacting this legislation?**
The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil and promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek on October 1, 1957. It represents a key executive and legislative action during his administration.

**Where can the official text of this law be accessed?**
The full text is available online through the official Planalto website at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l3273.htm. It is also indexed in the LexML Brazil system under the unique identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-10-01;3273.

**What specific topics does the law address beyond the capital transfer?**
In addition to fixing the transfer date, the statute addresses matters related to highways (Rodovia), calendar dates, and specific administrative additions or inclusions required for the transition. It functions as a comprehensive legal framework for the relocation process.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3273 is a pivotal piece of legislation in Brazilian history because it provided the legal mandate for the construction and inauguration of Brasília, a project that fundamentally reshaped the nation's geography and political center. By fixing the date for the capital's transfer, the law transformed a long-standing national ambition into a concrete reality, moving the seat of government from the coastal city of Rio de Janeiro to the interior highlands. This shift was intended to promote the development of the Brazilian hinterland, integrate the national territory, and symbolize a modern, forward-looking Brazil. Without this specific statute, the administrative and logistical framework for the capital's relocation would have lacked the necessary legal authority, potentially delaying or altering the course of Brazil's mid-20th-century development.

## Notable For
- **Historical Milestone:** It marks the legal formalization of the transfer of Brazil's capital, a defining event in the country's 20th-century history.
- **Presidential Legacy:** It is directly associated with the administration of Juscelino Kubitschek, whose slogan "50 years in 5" included the rapid construction of Brasília.
- **Unique Legal Scope:** The law uniquely combines the fixation of a calendar date with provisions regarding highways and administrative additions in a single statute.
- **Digital Preservation:** It is fully digitized and accessible through the LexML Brazil project, ensuring long-term public access to the text.
- **Jurisdictional Specificity:** It applies exclusively to the Federative Republic of Brazil, governing the internal administrative structure of the federal government.

## Body

### Definition and Legal Classification
Law No. 3273 of October 1, 1957, is formally classified as a **statute**, which is a formal written document that creates law. As a Brazilian federal law, it falls under the category of acts passed by the legislature and signed by the executive authority. It is an instance of a "legal term or legal concept" and serves as a specific manifestation of statutory law within the Brazilian legal system. The document functions as the official record of the legal rules enacted to manage the transition of the national capital. Its structure includes legal norms and is a part of the broader concepts of "law" and "legal act."

### Historical Context and Enactment
The law was enacted during a period of significant modernization in Brazil under the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek. On **October 1, 1957**, the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil promulgated the statute in **Rio de Janeiro**, which was then the capital of the country. The legislation was the result of the legislative process involving "draft laws" and was caused by the act of "legislation." The specific date of October 1, 1957, is critical as it marks the moment the legal framework for the capital's move was solidified. This action was part of a broader national strategy to develop the interior of the country and reduce the coastal concentration of power and population.

### Subject Matter and Provisions
The core content of Law No. 3273 focuses on the **fixation of the date** for the change of the Federal Capital. The law's "main subject" is explicitly defined as a "decision" regarding this fixation. Beyond the date itself, the statute encompasses several other distinct subjects:
- **Highways (Rodovia):** Provisions related to the road infrastructure necessary for the capital's connectivity.
- **Calendar Date (Data):** The specific temporal markers required for the transition.
- **Transfer (Transferencia):** The administrative and logistical aspects of moving the government apparatus.
- **Addition (Inclusão):** Additional measures or clauses included to support the primary objective.
These subjects indicate that the law was not merely a declaration but a comprehensive operational guide for the relocation process.

### Jurisdiction and Application
The law applies to the entire **Federative Republic of Brazil**. It is a federal statute, meaning it holds authority over the national territory and the federal government institutions. The jurisdiction is strictly defined as Brazil, distinguishing it from state or municipal laws. The legal citation for this text is **Lei nº 3273/1957**, which is used in legal references and academic citations. The language of the work is **Brazilian Portuguese**, ensuring that the legal text is accessible to the domestic population and legal professionals within the country.

### Digital Presence and Authority Control
Law No. 3273 is well-documented in digital knowledge bases and legal repositories.
- **LexML Brazil:** The law is assigned the unique identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-10-01;3273`, allowing for precise retrieval in the national legal metadata system.
- **Official Publication:** The text is hosted on the official government portal at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l3273.htm`.
- **Legislative Archives:** It is referenced in the Presidency's legislative database with the specific URL `https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3273&ano=1957&data=01/10/1957&ato=b08ETTU9UMNRVT000`.
- **Data References:** The information regarding the law's title, country, and legal digest has been verified and referenced by sources such as `Q10317762` (a Wikidata item) and accessed as of April 10, 2021.

### Administrative and Political Significance
The enactment of this law was a decisive step in the political agenda of the Kubitschek administration. By legally binding the date for the capital's transfer, the government signaled its commitment to the project, which was a central pillar of his "Plano de Metas" (Target Plan). The law facilitated the coordination between the executive and legislative branches, ensuring that the necessary resources and legal permissions were in place for the construction of Brasília and the subsequent move of government offices. It represents a unique intersection of urban planning, constitutional law, and national identity in Brazil.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-10-01;3273)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3273&ano=1957&data=01/10/1957&ato=b08ETTU9UMNRVT000)
3. LexML Brasil