# Law No. 3311 of November 11, 1957 > Brazilian law **Wikidata**: [Q105648700](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648700) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3311-of-november-11-1957 ## Summary Law No. 3311 of November 11, 1957 (Lei nº 3311, de 11 de novembro de 1957) is a Brazilian federal statute that promotes the issuance of commemorative stamps. Promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek in Rio de Janeiro, the law addresses subjects including the municipality of Congonhas in Minas Gerais, religious organizations, and municipal governance. ## Key Facts - **Full Title:** Lei nº 3311, de 11 de novembro de 1957 - **Alternative Name:** Lei nº 3311/1957 - **Type:** Statute (formal written document that creates law) - **Country:** Brazil - **Publication Date:** November 11, 1957 - **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro - **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil - **Promulgated By:** Juscelino Kubitschek (President of Brazil) - **Promulgation Method:** Promulgation - **Jurisdiction:** Brazil - **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese - **Law Digest:** "PROMOVE A EMISSÃO DE SELOS COMEMORATIVOS" (Promotes the issuance of commemorative stamps) - **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-11-11;3311 - **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3311.htm - **Wikimedia Project:** WikiProject Brazilian Laws ## FAQs **What is the main purpose of Law No. 3311/1957?** The law promotes the issuance of commemorative stamps in Brazil. Its law digest explicitly states "PROMOVE A EMISSÃO DE SELOS COMEMORATIVOS" as its primary function. **Who signed Law No. 3311 into effect?** The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil and promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek on November 11, 1957. **What geographic areas and subjects does this law address?** The law's main subjects include Congonhas (identified as a municipality in Minas Gerais, abbreviated as "Mg"), the State of Minas Gerais, religious institutions ("Instituição Religiosa"), municipalities in general, and emissions/issuance processes. **Where was Law No. 3311 published?** The law was published in Rio de Janeiro, which was serving as the federal capital of Brazil at that time (the capital was not moved to Brasília until April 22, 1960). **Where can the full text of Law No. 3311 be accessed?** The official text is available at the Brazilian Presidency's legislative portal: https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3311.htm and is also indexed under the LexML Brazil system with identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-11-11;3311. ## Why It Matters Law No. 3311 of November 11, 1957 represents a specific legislative action from the Kubitschek presidency era, a period marked by significant development and modernization efforts in Brazil. As a statute classified under Brazilian federal law, it serves as the formal legal instrument authorizing commemorative stamp emissions—likely connected to recognizing cultural, religious, or municipal heritage. The specific inclusion of Congonhas, a historic city in Minas Gerais known for its religious architecture (including the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos), suggests this law may have facilitated philatelic commemoration of significant Brazilian cultural or religious sites. The law exemplifies how federal legislation can be used to promote national heritage through postal services and commemorative materials. ## Notable For - **Kubitschek Era Legislation:** Enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, one of Brazil's most significant 20th-century leaders known for his modernization policies - **Specific Geographic Focus:** Uniquely references Congonhas, Minas Gerais—a UNESCO World Heritage site location - **Religious Organization Connection:** Explicitly includes religious institutions among its main subjects - **Philatelic Legislation:** One of the specific Brazilian laws dedicated to promoting commemorative stamp issuance - **Pre-Brasília Publication:** Published while Rio de Janeiro was still the federal capital - **LexML Integration:** Indexed in Brazil's official legal document system with persistent identifier ## Body ### Classification and Legal Identity Law No. 3311 of November 11, 1957 is classified as a **statute**—a formal written document that creates law. As a statute, it functions as a manifestation of statutory law and serves as an official record of legal rules enacted by the Brazilian government. The law is identified by its legal citation "Lei nº 3311/1957" and carries the LexML Brazil persistent identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-11-11;3311`. LexML Brazil is the official system for identifying and locating Brazilian legal documents. The law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil** as a federal statute and was written in **Brazilian Portuguese**, the official language of the country. It is cataloged under WikiProject Brazilian Laws, indicating its recognition within structured knowledge initiatives focused on Brazilian legislation. ### Promulgation and Authority The statute was **approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil** and promulgated by **Juscelino Kubitschek**, who served as President of Brazil from 1956 to 1961. The promulgation occurred on November 11, 1957, through the formal method of promulgation (the official proclamation that gives legal force to a law). At the time of this law's enactment, **Rio de Janeiro** served as the capital of Brazil. The city remained the seat of federal government until April 22, 1960, when the capital was transferred to Brasília—a project championed by Kubitschek himself as part of his ambitious modernization program. ### Subject Matter and Scope According to the structured data, Law No. 3311 has multiple main subjects documented in its legislative record: - **Congonhas (Mg):** A municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, Congonhas is historically significant for its religious architecture, particularly the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, which features sculptures by Aleijadinho and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. - **Religious Organization ("Instituição Religiosa"):** The law explicitly references religious institutions, suggesting a connection to ecclesiastical or faith-based entities. - **Minas Gerais ("Estado De Minas Gerais - Mg"):** Brazil's second-most populous state and a region rich in colonial history and religious heritage. - **Municipality ("Município"):** The law addresses municipal-level governance or administrative divisions. - **Emission ("Emissão"):** Referenced in the context of the law's digest, relating to the issuance or publication of materials. ### Legislative Purpose The law digest provides the concise legislative purpose: **"PROMOVE A EMISSÃO DE SELOS COMEMORATIVOS"** (Promotes the issuance of commemorative stamps). This indicates that Law No. 3311/1957 authorized or facilitated the creation and distribution of commemorative postage stamps by Brazilian postal authorities. Given the specific geographic and institutional subjects referenced (Congonhas, religious organizations, Minas Gerais), the commemorative stamps promoted by this law were likely related to religious, cultural, or historical heritage connected to the Congonhas region and its significance within Minas Gerais. ### Official Sources and Access The full text of Law No. 3311 is accessible through official Brazilian government channels: - **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3311.htm (hosted by the Presidency of the Republic's Civil House) - **Legislative Portal:** https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3311&ano=1957&data=11/11/1957&ato=e84kXRE1kMNRVTa4d - **LexML Portal:** https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-11-11;3311 These sources provide verified access to the complete legislative text as maintained by Brazilian federal authorities. ### Historical Context The enactment of Law No. 3311 occurred during a transformative period in Brazilian history. President Juscelino Kubitschek's administration (1956-1961) was characterized by the slogan "Fifty Years in Five" and marked by ambitious infrastructure projects, industrialization efforts, and the construction of Brasília. Laws from this period often reflected the government's interest in promoting Brazilian culture, heritage, and national identity on both domestic and international stages. The specific focus on commemorative stamps aligns with broader efforts to showcase Brazilian cultural and religious heritage to both citizens and the international community through philatelic materials, which served as accessible cultural ambassadors in the pre-digital era. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-11-11;3311) 2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3311&ano=1957&data=11/11/1957&ato=e84kXRE1kMNRVTa4d) 3. LexML Brasil