# Law No. 3338 of December 14, 1957

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649208](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649208)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3338-of-december-14-1957

## Summary
Law No. 3338 of December 14, 1957 is a Brazilian federal statute that amends provisions of Laws 2,550 (July 25, 1955) and 2,982 (November 30, 1956). Promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek, the law primarily addresses special budgetary adjustments (Credito Especial) and expense authorizations for the Superior Electoral Court and the Brazilian Election Justice system.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3338, de 14 de dezembro de 1957
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3338/1957
- **Date of Promulgation:** December 14, 1957
- **Classification:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (federal law)
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro
- **Laws Amended:** Law 2,550 (July 25, 1955) and Law 2,982 (November 30, 1956)
- **Main Subjects:** Special budgetary adjustment (Credito Especial), expense (Despesa), Superior Electoral Court (Tribunal Superior Eleitoral - TSE), Brazilian Election Justice (Justiça Eleitoral)
- **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-12-14;3338
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3338.htm
- **Wikimedia Project:** WikiProject Brazilian Laws

## FAQs

**What does Law No. 3338/1957 do?**
The law modifies provisions of two earlier statutes—Law 2,550 of July 25, 1955, and Law 2,982 of November 30, 1956—to implement special budgetary adjustments for Brazil's electoral justice system, including the Superior Electoral Court.

**Who signed Law No. 3338/1957 into effect?**
The law was promulgated by Juscelino Kubitschek, then President of Brazil, through the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil on December 14, 1957.

**Where can I find the full text of this law?**
The official text is available at the Brazilian Presidency's legislation portal (planalto.gov.br) and is indexed in the LexML Brazil system under identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-12-14;3338`.

**Why was this law published in Rio de Janeiro?**
At the time of enactment in 1957, Rio de Janeiro served as Brazil's federal capital. The capital was later transferred to Brasília on April 21, 1960.

**What government institutions does this law affect?**
The law specifically addresses budgetary and expense matters related to the Superior Electoral Court (Tribunal Superior Eleitoral - TSE) and the broader Brazilian Election Justice (Justiça Eleitoral) system.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3338/1957 represents a specific legislative intervention in Brazil's electoral governance framework during a pivotal period in the nation's democratic development. By authorizing special budgetary adjustments for the Superior Electoral Court and Election Justice system, the statute ensured adequate funding for the administration of federal, state, and municipal elections during the late 1950s.

The law was enacted during Juscelino Kubitschek's transformative presidency (1956-1961), a period marked by ambitious industrialization programs and the construction of Brasília as the new federal capital. Electoral administration during this era required stable funding mechanisms to support democratic processes amid rapid national development and political modernization.

As an amending statute, Law No. 3338/1957 demonstrates how Brazilian federal legislation functions to modify existing legal frameworks rather than always creating entirely new laws. This approach allows for iterative refinements to budgetary and administrative provisions as governmental needs evolve. The law's continued availability through official government portals and its inclusion in WikiProject Brazilian Laws underscore its enduring relevance as a documented piece of Brazil's legal history.

## Notable For
- **Kubitschek Era Legislation:** Enacted during the administration of President Juscelino Kubitschek, known for his "50 years in 5" modernization program
- **Pre-Brasília Publication:** Published in Rio de Janeiro approximately two years before Brazil's capital transferred to Brasília
- **Electoral Court Focus:** Specifically targets fiscal provisions for the Superior Electoral Court, Brazil's highest electoral authority
- **Amending Function:** Exemplifies the use of federal statutes to modify existing legal frameworks (Laws 2,550 and 2,982)
- **LexML Integration:** Formally indexed in Brazil's official legal documentation system with persistent identifier
- **Public Domain Status:** As an official government edict, the text is freely accessible without copyright restrictions
- **Wikimedia Recognition:** Included in WikiProject Brazilian Laws, indicating documented significance in legal knowledge organization

## Body

### Classification and Legal Nature
Law No. 3338 of December 14, 1957 is classified as a **statute**—a formal written document that creates law. In the Brazilian legal system, statutes (leis) represent the manifestation of statutory law and contain binding legal norms. This federal statute applies to the entire jurisdiction of Brazil, encompassing all 26 states plus the Federal District. The document was composed and published in **Brazilian Portuguese**, the nation's official language.

### Legislative Authorization and Promulgation
The statute received approval from the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil** through the formal act of promulgation. **Juscelino Kubitschek**, serving as President from 1956 to 1961, authorized this law on December 14, 1957. Kubitschek's presidency is historically significant for its ambitious development agenda, including the construction of Brasília and major infrastructure investments across Brazil.

### Publication Details
The law was officially published on **December 14, 1957**, in the city of **Rio de Janeiro**. At that time, Rio de Janeiro functioned as Brazil's federal capital—a status it held from 1763 until April 21, 1960, when the government relocated to the newly constructed capital of Brasília. The official legal citation for this statute is **Lei nº 3338/1957**.

### Substantive Content and Purpose
The law's official digest provides the following summary: **"ALTERA DISPOSIÇÕES DAS LEIS 2.550, DE 25 DE JULHO DE 1955, E 2.982, DE 30 DE NOVEMBRO DE 1956, E DA OUTRAS PROVIDENCIAS"** (Alters provisions of Laws 2,550 of July 25, 1955, and 2,982 of November 30, 1956, and provides other measures).

The statute addresses five primary subjects:

- **Special Budgetary Adjustment (Credito Especial):** A fiscal mechanism for authorizing supplemental government expenditures beyond the standard budgetary process
- **Expense (Despesa):** Government spending allocations and fiscal authorizations
- **Superior Electoral Court (Tribunal Superior Eleitoral - TSE):** Brazil's highest judicial body for electoral matters
- **Brazilian Election Justice (Justiça Eleitoral):** The comprehensive judicial system overseeing electoral processes
- **Change (Alteração):** The modification of existing legal provisions

### Relationship to Prior Legislation
Law No. 3338/1957 functions as an **amending statute** that modifies two previously enacted pieces of Brazilian legislation:

1. **Law 2,550 (July 25, 1955):** Original provisions subject to alteration under this statute
2. **Law 2,982 (November 30, 1956):** Original provisions subject to alteration under this statute

Both predecessor laws addressed budgetary or administrative matters related to Brazil's electoral justice system. Law No. 3338/1957 was enacted to adjust, update, or supplement these existing provisions in response to evolving governmental needs.

### Institutional Context: The Superior Electoral Court
The **Superior Electoral Court (TSE)** is one of Brazil's specialized high courts. Established under Brazil's constitutional framework, the TSE holds responsibility for:
- Administering federal, state, and municipal elections throughout Brazil
- Judging electoral disputes at the highest level
- Regulating political parties and electoral procedures
- Ensuring compliance with electoral legislation

At the time of this law's enactment in 1957, the TSE operated under the constitutional framework established by the 1946 Constitution. Statutes like Law No. 3338/1957 that authorize special budgetary adjustments for the TSE are essential for maintaining the operational capacity of Brazil's democratic electoral infrastructure.

### Documentation and Access Systems
Law No. 3338/1957 is indexed in Brazil's **LexML system** under the persistent identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-12-14;3338`. LexML Brazil serves as the official system for identifying, locating, and referencing Brazilian legal documents, ensuring reliable access to legislative texts across digital platforms.

The complete text of the law remains accessible through the **Brazilian Presidency's official legislation portal** at: `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3338.htm`

### Knowledge Organization
This statute is included in **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, a Wikimedia initiative dedicated to organizing and enhancing coverage of Brazilian legislation on Wikipedia and related projects. This inclusion indicates the law's recognition as a documented legal instrument within systematic legal knowledge organization efforts.

As an official government document (edict of government doctrine), Law No. 3338/1957 exists in the **public domain**. This status ensures that Brazilian citizens, legal professionals, researchers, and the international community can freely access the binding legal rules it contains without copyright restrictions.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-12-14;3338)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3338&ano=1957&data=14/12/1957&ato=4ecQTWE1kMNRVT324)
3. LexML Brasil