# Law No. 3357 of December 22, 1957

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649284](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649284)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3357-of-december-22-1957

## Summary
**Law No. 3357 of December 22, 1957** is a Brazilian federal statute enacted to create the Museum of Abolition (Museu da Abolição). The law establishes the museum's headquarters in the city of Recife, the capital of the state of Pernambuco. It was promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President Juscelino Kubitschek.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3357, de 22 de dezembro de 1957.
- **Entity Type:** Statute (formal written document that creates law).
- **Date of Promulgation:** December 22, 1957.
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil; signed by President Juscelino Kubitschek.
- **Primary Function:** Creates the Museum of Abolition (Museu da Abolição).
- **Location of Entity:** Headquarters established in Recife, Capital of the State of Pernambuco.
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3357/1957.
- **Identifier:** LexML Brazil ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-12-22;3357`.
- **Publication Place:** Rio de Janeiro.
- **Online Access:** Available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3357.htm`.

## FAQs
**What is the main purpose of Law No. 3357?**
The law mandates the creation of the Museum of Abolition (Museu da Abolição). It specifically establishes the museum's seat in the city of Recife, which serves as the capital of the state of Pernambuco.

**Who signed Law No. 3357 into effect?**
The statute was approved and promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, specifically under the administration of President Juscelino Kubitschek, on December 22, 1957.

**What type of legal instrument is Law No. 3357?**
It is classified as a statute, which is a formal written document that creates law. As a federal law, it applies to the jurisdiction of Brazil and serves as a legal act establishing a federal cultural institution.

**Where can the official text of Law No. 3357 be found?**
The official text is accessible via the Brazilian government's legal portal at the Planalto Palace website (`https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3357.htm`). It is also indexed under the LexML Brazil identifier.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3357 holds significance as the foundational legal instrument for a major Brazilian cultural institution, the Museum of Abolition. By formally establishing the museum in Recife—a city with deep historical ties to the history of slavery in Brazil—the law represents a federal commitment to preserving the history and memory of abolition. As a statute, it serves as a concrete manifestation of statutory law, providing the necessary legal framework and authority for the museum's operation within the federal system. Its enactment by the Juscelino Kubitschek administration places it within a pivotal era of Brazilian developmentalism and modernization.

## Notable For
- **Founding of the Museum of Abolição:** This law is the primary legal document that brought the Museum of Abolition into existence.
- **Recife Cultural Landmark:** It legally anchors the museum in Recife, Pernambuco, designating the city as a custodian of abolition history.
- **Juscelino Kubitschek Era:** The law was promulgated during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, a period marked by significant construction and federal projects.
- **Statutory Classification:** Serves as a clear example of a Brazilian federal statute, distinct from a decree or by-law, functioning as a formal written document creating law.

## Body

### Enactment and Legislative History
Law No. 3357 was enacted on December 22, 1957, and published on the same date. The legal act was performed by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The specific determination method recorded for this law is "promulgation." At the time of enactment, the Head of State and Government responsible was **President Juscelino Kubitschek**. The publication of the law occurred in **Rio de Janeiro**, which served as the federal capital of Brazil until 1960.

### Provisions and Subject Matter
The core content of Law No. 3357 is succinctly defined in its digest: it creates the Museum of Abolition. The statute specifies the physical and administrative location of the new institution:
- **Entity Created:** Museum of Abolition (Museu da Abolição).
- **Headquarters:** The city of Recife.
- **State:** Pernambuco.
- **Role:** Capital city of the state.

The law addresses the "creation" (stated as "Criação") of this entity and lists the "municipality" and "Pernambuco" (stated as "Estado De Pernambuco") as main subjects of the legislation.

### Jurisdiction and Classification
The law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil** (Federative Republic of Brazil). It is classified as an **instance of a statute**. In the context of legal theory, a statute is a formal written document that creates law, encompassing acts, executive orders, and by-laws. As a legal term, it is a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." The language of the work is **Brazilian Portuguese**.

### Identification and Access
The law is indexed within Brazilian legal databases and international knowledge graphs using specific identifiers:
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-12-22;3357`
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3357/1957
- **Short Name:** Lei nº 3357, de 22 de dezembro de 1957
- **Official URL:** The full text is available on the Planalto government website (`https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3357.htm`).

The entity is also tracked on Wikimedia projects as part of **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**.

### Context of Origin
The law originates from **Brazil**, the largest country in South America. At the time of the law's passage in 1957, Brazil was operating under the presidential system established by the 1946 Constitution (which preceded the 1988 Constitution). The country was formally known as the Republic of the United States of Brazil. The legal system operates on Civil Law principles, where statutes serve as the primary source of law. The creation of a museum via specific federal statute reflects the centralized authority over federal cultural patrimony during that period.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-12-22;3357)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3357&ano=1957&data=22/12/1957&ato=b40ITQU1kMNRVT054)
3. LexML Brasil