# Law No. 3364 of December 26, 1957

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649313](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649313)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3364-of-december-26-1957

## Summary

Law No. 3364 of December 26, 1957 (Lei nº 3364/1957) is a Brazilian statute enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek that establishes special budgetary credit (Crédito Especial) for financial aid, involving the Ministry of Health and the Brazilian states of Alagoas and Minas Gerais. Promulgated on December 26, 1957, and published in Rio de Janeiro, this law represents a specific legislative act within Brazil's federal legal system, classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law.

## Key Facts

- **Official Title**: Lei nº 3364, de 26 de dezembro de 1957
- **Legal Citation**: Lei nº 3364/1957
- **Country**: Brazil
- **Approval Authority**: Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **President**: Juscelino Kubitschek (at time of promulgation)
- **Promulgation Date**: December 26, 1957
- **Publication Place**: Rio de Janeiro
- **Language**: Brazilian Portuguese
- **Classification**: Statute (instance_of: statute)
- **LEXML Brazil ID**: urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-12-26;3364
- **Jurisdiction**: Brazil (applies_to_jurisdiction: Brazil)
- **Main Subjects**: Special budgetary adjustment (Crédito Especial), financial aid (Auxílio Financeiro), Ministry of Health of Brazil, States of Alagoas and Minas Gerais
- **Official Source**: https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3364.htm
- **Wikidata Description**: Brazilian law
- **Wikimedia Project**: WikiProject Brazilian Laws (on focus list)

## FAQs

**What type of law is Law No. 3364/1957?**

Law No. 3364 of December 26, 1957 is classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law. In the Brazilian legal system, a statute (estatuto) is a legal norm enacted by the legislative authority, in this case, the federal government through presidential promulgation. It falls under the category of "legal act" and "legislation" that results in statutory law.

**Who enacted Law No. 3364/1957?**

The law was enacted by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President Juscelino Kubitschek on December 26, 1957. Kubitschek served as President of Brazil from 1956 to 1961 and was known for his development-focused administration during the period known as the "Golden Law" era of Brazilian democracy.

**What is the subject matter of Law No. 3364/1957?**

The law deals with special budgetary credit (Crédito Especial) and financial aid (Auxílio Financeiro). It specifically involves the Ministry of Health (Ministério da Saúde) and allocates resources to the Brazilian states of Alagoas and Minas Gerais. This type of legislation represents a specific allocation of federal funds for particular purposes and jurisdictions.

**Where can Law No. 3364/1957 be found?**

The full text of Law No. 3364/1957 is available through the official Brazilian government legislation portal at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3364.htm. The law is also catalogued in the LEXML Brazilian legal database with the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-12-26;3364.

**What is the relationship between Law No. 3364/1957 and other Brazilian laws?**

As a federal statute, Law No. 3364/1957 exists within Brazil's hierarchical legal system. It was enacted under the constitutional framework of the period and represents one of thousands of federal laws passed during Brazil's Fourth Republic (1946–1964). The law relates to budgetary and financial matters, which fall under the jurisdiction of federal authority regarding public finance and health policy.

## Why It Matters

Law No. 3364 of December 26, 1957 matters for several interconnected reasons within the context of Brazilian legal and administrative history. First, it represents a concrete example of how the Brazilian federal government exercised its budgetary authority during the mid-20th century to direct financial resources to specific states and governmental functions. The involvement of the Ministry of Health indicates this law was part of federal efforts to address health-related needs or infrastructure in Alagoas and Minas Gerais.

Second, this law exemplifies the functioning of Brazil's statutory system during the Fourth Republic—a period characterized by significant legislative activity and democratic governance before the military coup of 1964. The law demonstrates how statutes serve as the formal mechanism through which government authority is exercised and recorded, providing the concrete, written evidence of legal rules that govern the allocation of public resources.

Third, as a statute, Law No. 3364/1957 contributes to the body of statutory law that constitutes Brazil's legal framework. Each statute interacts with the broader legal system, including the constitution, other statutes, and administrative regulations. The law's classification as a "statute" places it within the foundational legal concept that encompasses acts, executive orders, and by-laws—formal written documents that create law.

Finally, the law matters because it is part of Brazil's official legal record, accessible to citizens, researchers, and legal professionals. The public availability of this statute through official government portals reflects the principle that legal documents should be accessible, ensuring transparency in government financial operations and enabling accountability.

## Notable For

- **Historical Significance**: Enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, a pivotal period in Brazilian developmental history
- **Federal-State Financial Relations**: Demonstrates the federal government's use of special budgetary credit to provide financial aid to specific states (Alagoas and Minas Gerais)
- **Health Sector Involvement**: Connected to the Ministry of Health, indicating federal investment in health-related matters during the 1950s
- **Legal Documentation**: Represented as a formal statute within Brazil's legislative system, catalogued in official legal databases
- **Public Accessibility**: Available through official government portals, exemplifying transparency in Brazilian statutory law

## Body

### Legislative Context and Enactment

Law No. 3364 of December 26, 1957 was promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek, who served as President of Brazil from 1956 to 1961. This period, known as the "Golden Law" (Governo JK), was characterized by ambitious developmental policies and significant legislative activity. The law was published in Rio de Janeiro, which served as Brazil's capital until 1960 when Brasília became the new capital.

The enactment of this statute occurred during Brazil's Fourth Republic (1946–1964), a period marked by democratic governance and frequent changes in presidential leadership. The legal framework of this era established the procedures for creating statutes, including presidential promulgation following legislative approval. As a federal law, Law No. 3364/1957 carries the full authority of the national government and applies throughout Brazilian territory.

### Legal Classification and Nature

Law No. 3364/1957 is classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law. This classification places it within the broader category of legal instruments that include acts passed by legislatures, executive orders, and by-laws. In the Brazilian legal system, a statute (lei) is distinguished from other legal instruments by its formal enactment through the legislative process and presidential approval.

The statute operates as a specific legal norm within Brazil's hierarchical legal system. It is part of the country's statutory law, which encompasses all laws enacted by the federal government and state legislatures. The law's identification number (3364) and year (1957) provide its unique legal citation (Lei nº 3364/1957), enabling precise reference in legal documents, court proceedings, and administrative actions.

### Subject Matter and Purpose

The primary subject matter of Law No. 3364/1957 involves special budgetary credit (Crédito Especial) and financial aid (Auxílio Financeiro). Special budgetary credit represents a mechanism through which the Brazilian government can allocate funds outside the regular budgetary process, typically for specific purposes or emergencies. This tool allows for flexibility in government spending while maintaining legislative oversight.

The law specifically involves the Ministry of Health (Ministério da Saúde), indicating that its purpose relates to health-related activities or infrastructure. The inclusion of the states of Alagoas and Minas Gerais as main subjects suggests that the financial resources were directed toward these specific jurisdictions. This type of targeted funding reflects the federal government's authority to distribute resources to states based on legislative determinations of need or policy priorities.

### Jurisdictional Scope

Law No. 3364/1957 applies to the entire territory of Brazil, as indicated by its classification as a federal law with national jurisdiction. The statute operates within Brazil's federal system, which divides governmental authority between the federal government and the 26 states (including the Federal District). While the law specifically mentions Alagoas and Minas Gerais as recipients of the financial provisions, its legal framework applies nationally.

The law was enacted under the constitutional authority of the federal government regarding public finance, budgeting, and health policy. These areas fall within the concurrent or exclusive jurisdiction of the federal government, depending on specific constitutional provisions. The law's nationwide applicability ensures consistent application of its provisions throughout Brazilian territory.

### Official Documentation and Access

The full text of Law No. 3364/1957 is preserved in Brazil's official legal archives and accessible through government portals. The primary official source is the Presidency of the Republic's legislation website (https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3364.htm), which hosts the complete text of federal laws from this period.

The law is also catalogued in LEXML, Brazil's centralized legal information system, with the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-12-26;3364. This identifier enables precise referencing and retrieval of the law within legal databases and government systems. The law's inclusion in WikiProject Brazilian Laws demonstrates its recognition as part of Brazil's significant legislative corpus worthy of documentation and study.

### Relationship to Broader Legal Concepts

As a statute, Law No. 3364/1957 exemplifies the concept of a statute as a formal written document that creates law. This concept is foundational to civil law legal systems, including the Brazilian legal system, where statutes represent the primary source of law. The law demonstrates how statutes function as the manifestation of statutory law—concrete legal rules enacted by government authority.

The law relates to broader legal concepts including legislation (the process of making laws), legal acts (actions that create legal effects), and legal norms (rules of conduct established by legal authority). Its creation followed the legislative process established under Brazil's constitutional framework, demonstrating how draft laws become statutes through formal enactment procedures.

### Historical Context of Brazilian Lawmaking

Law No. 3364/1957 was enacted during a significant period in Brazilian history. The 1950s represented a time of economic modernization and political development under the Fourth Republic. President Juscelino Kubitschek's administration focused on industrialization and infrastructure development, with health and state development playing important roles in federal policy.

The law reflects the administrative and financial mechanisms available to the federal government during this period. Special budgetary credits represented one tool for addressing pressing needs outside the regular budget cycle. The involvement of the Ministry of Health indicates federal attention to public health matters, while the inclusion of specific states demonstrates the federal government's engagement with regional development.

### Legal Citation and Reference

Law No. 3364/1957 is formally cited as "Lei nº 3364/1957" in legal documents, academic works, and administrative proceedings. This citation format follows Brazilian conventions, using the law number (3364) and year (1957) to uniquely identify the statute. The law's official title, "Lei nº 3364, de 26 de dezembro de 1957," provides the full formal designation including the specific date of enactment.

Legal practitioners, researchers, and citizens referencing this law use these citation forms to locate the full text, cite it in briefs or academic works, or trace its relationship to other legal provisions. The precise identification of statutes is essential for legal research, litigation, and understanding the evolution of Brazilian law.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-12-26;3364)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3364&ano=1957&data=26/12/1957&ato=ca8cXSU1kMNRVTf32)