# Law No. 3288 of October 20, 1957

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648626](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648626)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3288-of-october-20-1957

## Summary

Law No. 3288 of October 20, 1957 (Lei nº 3288/1957) is a Brazilian statute enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, establishing a special budgetary adjustment (crédito especial) for the Ministry of Justice and Interior Affairs (Ministério da Justiça e Negócios Interiores). Published in Rio de Janeiro, this law represents a formal legislative act within Brazil's statutory framework and exemplifies the budgetary and administrative mechanisms used by the federal government during the late 1950s. The law remains accessible through official government portals and is cataloged within Brazil's legislative information systems.

## Key Facts

- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3288, de 20 de outubro de 1957
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3288/1957
- **Country:** Brazil
- **Publication Date:** October 20, 1957
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **President:** Juscelino Kubitschek (at time of promulgation)
- **Determination Method:** Promulgation
- **Instance Of:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Main Subject:** Ministério da Justiça e Negócios Interiores (Ministry of Justice and Interior Affairs)
- **Subject Matter:** Special budgetary adjustment (Crédito Especial)
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Applies To Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **LEXML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-10-20;3288
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3288.htm

## FAQs

**What type of legal document is Law No. 3288/1957?**

Law No. 3288/1957 is classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law, including acts, executive orders, and by-laws. It represents a specific legislative enactment by the federal government of Brazil, falling within the category of acts passed by the national legislature and promulgated by the President.

**Which government ministry was the primary subject of Law No. 3288/1957?**

The law primarily addressed the Ministry of Justice and Interior Affairs (Ministério da Justiça e Negócios Interiores), which was a key federal ministry responsible for justice administration and internal affairs during the Kubitschek administration. This ministry handled matters related to legal policy, law enforcement coordination, and internal governmental affairs.

**What was the purpose of Law No. 3288/1957?**

The law established a special budgetary adjustment (crédito especial) for the Ministry of Justice and Interior Affairs. Special budgetary credits in Brazilian law are mechanisms that allow the government to allocate funds for specific purposes outside the regular budget, typically for urgent or unforeseen needs that require immediate financial authorization.

**Who signed Law No. 3288/1957?**

The law was promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek on October 20, 1957. Kubitschek served as President of Brazil from 1956 to 1961 and was known for his ambitious development programs, including the construction of Brasília.

**Where can Law No. 3288/1957 be accessed?**

The full text of the law is available through the official website of the Brazilian Presidency at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3288.htm. It is also cataloged in Brazil's legislative databases, including the LEXML system, under the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-10-20;3288.

**What is the relationship between Law No. 3288/1957 and Brazilian statutory law?**

As a statute, Law No. 3288/1957 is part of Brazil's statutory law (direito statutory), which encompasses all laws enacted by the legislative branch and promulgated by the executive. Statutes in Brazil are formal written documents that create binding legal rules and are distinguished from other legal sources such as regulations, judicial decisions, and customary law.

## Why It Matters

Law No. 3288 of October 20, 1957 matters as a historical artifact of Brazilian legislative practice during a transformative period in the country's development. Enacted during the Kubitschek administration—a period marked by significant modernization and economic growth initiatives—this law exemplifies how the Brazilian federal government utilized statutory mechanisms to manage budgetary resources for essential ministries.

The law represents a specific instance of the "crédito especial" (special budgetary adjustment), a financial instrument that allows the executive branch to request and obtain legislative authorization for expenditures that fall outside the ordinary budget provisions. This mechanism reflects the system of checks and balances in Brazilian governance, where financial matters requiring legislative authorization must be formally enacted as statutes.

From a legal taxonomy perspective, Law No. 3288/1957 serves as a concrete example of how the concept of a "statute" operates within the Brazilian legal system. As a formal written document that creates law, it embodies the definition of statute as established in legal theory—distinguishing itself from regulations, decrees, and other normative acts through its specific legislative origin and formal promulgation process.

The law's preservation in official government archives and its continued accessibility through digital portals demonstrates Brazil's commitment to maintaining public access to its legislative history. This accessibility is particularly significant given the broader context that statutes in Brazil, like in many jurisdictions, are generally considered public documents that citizens and researchers can consult.

## Notable For

- **Historical Significance:** Represents Brazilian legislative output during the Kubitschek presidency (1956-1961), a period of significant political and economic transformation in Brazil.
- **Budgetary Mechanism:** Demonstrates the use of special budgetary credits (crédito especial) as a fiscal tool within Brazilian governmental administration.
- **Ministry-Specific Focus:** Directly addresses funding for the Ministry of Justice and Interior Affairs, a key federal ministry with responsibilities spanning legal policy and internal governance.
- **Legal Classification:** Serves as a concrete example of a "statute" within Brazilian law—a formal written document that creates law through legislative enactment and executive promulgation.
- **Digital Preservation:** Remains accessible through official government digital repositories, illustrating Brazil's efforts to digitize and preserve its legislative heritage.

## Body

### Legislative Context and Enactment

Law No. 3288 of October 20, 1957 was enacted during a significant period in Brazilian history. The law emerged during the administration of President Juscelino Kubitschek, who served from 1956 to 1961. Kubitschek's presidency was characterized by ambitious development programs, including the construction of Brasília, which was inaugurated in 1960. The period saw substantial economic growth and modernization efforts across various sectors of Brazilian society.

The law was formally promulgated on October 20, 1957, in Rio de Janeiro, which served as the capital of Brazil at that time. The capital would not move to Brasília until 1960. The promulgation process represents the final stage of the legislative process in Brazil, where the President formally signs the law into effect after its passage by the National Congress.

### Subject Matter and Purpose

The primary subject of Law No. 3288/1957 was the establishment of a special budgetary adjustment (crédito especial) for the Ministério da Justiça e Negócios Interiores (Ministry of Justice and Interior Affairs). This ministry held significant responsibilities in the Brazilian federal government structure, overseeing matters related to justice administration, legal policy, and internal affairs.

In Brazilian budgetary law, special credits represent extraordinary funding mechanisms that allow the government to address specific financial needs that were not anticipated or fully accounted for in the regular annual budget (Lei de Diretrizes Orçamentárias). These credits require specific legislative authorization and must be formally enacted as law, demonstrating the system of legislative oversight over government finances.

### Legal Classification and Characteristics

Law No. 3288/1957 is classified as a statute within the Brazilian legal system. A statute, as defined in legal theory, is a formal written document that creates law, encompassing acts passed by legislatures, executive orders, and by-laws. This classification places the law within the broader category of statutory law (direito statutory), which represents one of the primary sources of law in the Brazilian legal system.

The law's characteristics as a statute include:

- **Formal Written Document:** The law exists as a formal written text, published in official government publications and archived in legislative repositories.
- **Legislative Origin:** While the specific legislative history is not detailed in the source material, the law follows the standard process of legislative enactment in Brazil.
- **Executive Promulgation:** The law was formally promulgated by the President of the Republic, giving it binding legal force.
- **Public Accessibility:** As a statute, the law is considered a public document, accessible to citizens, researchers, and legal professionals.

### Relationship to Broader Legal Concepts

Law No. 3288/1957 exists within a hierarchical structure of Brazilian law. At the apex sits the Constitution of Brazil, with statutes (leis) occupying a primary position below constitutional provisions. The law represents an exercise of statutory authority by the federal government, specifically addressing matters within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice.

The law's subject matter—budgetary allocation for a specific ministry—reflects the intersection between administrative law and financial law in Brazil. Special budgetary credits represent a mechanism through which the executive branch can request additional funding for specific purposes, subject to legislative approval. This reflects the separation of powers principle inherent in Brazilian constitutional governance.

### Official Documentation and References

The law is documented in multiple official Brazilian legislative databases:

- **LEXML ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-10-20;3288 — This identifier allows for precise referencing within Brazil's legislative information system.
- **Official Portal:** The full text is available at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3288.htm, maintained by the Brazilian Presidency.
- **Legal Citation Standard:** The law is commonly cited as "Lei nº 3288/1957" or "Lei nº 3288, de 20 de outubro de 1957," following standard Brazilian legal citation conventions.

### Historical Context of Brazilian Lawmaking

Law No. 3288/1957 emerged during a period when Brazil was developing its modern administrative and legal structures. The 1950s represented a time of significant legislative activity, with the country working to establish comprehensive legal frameworks to support its economic development and administrative modernization.

The Ministry of Justice and Interior Affairs, to which this law allocated special budgetary resources, was a key institution in the federal bureaucracy. This ministry played a central role in coordinating legal policy, overseeing law enforcement, and managing internal governmental affairs—a reflection of the broader administrative structure of the Brazilian state during this period.

### Accessibility and Legal Research

The preservation and accessibility of Law No. 3288/1957 exemplifies Brazil's approach to maintaining legislative transparency. Official government portals provide access to historical legislation, allowing legal professionals, researchers, and citizens to consult the full text of laws enacted throughout Brazilian history.

This accessibility is consistent with the broader principle that statutes are public documents. Unlike works subject to copyright protection, legislative enactments are considered part of the public domain, ensuring that citizens have access to the laws that govern them. This principle aligns with the "edict of government doctrine" recognized in various jurisdictions, which establishes that official legal documents are not subject to copyright restrictions due to public policy considerations.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-10-20;3288)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3288&ano=1957&data=20/10/1957&ato=40dETWU9UMNRVT1b1)