# Law No. 3374 of March 12, 1958

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649098](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649098)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3374-of-march-12-1958

## Summary
Law No. 3374 of March 12, 1958 (Lei nº 3374, de 12 de março de 1958) is a Brazilian federal statute published in Rio de Janeiro. Its primary purpose was to rectify Law No. 2942 of November 8, 1956, specifically regarding the payment of a teaching gratuity (gratificação de magistério).

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3374, de 12 de março de 1958.
- **Alternative Name:** Lei nº 3374/1958.
- **Classification:** Statute (formal written document that creates law).
- **Country/Jurisdiction:** Brazil (Federative Republic of Brazil).
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Publication Date:** March 12, 1958.
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro.
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Promulgated By:** Juscelino Kubitschek (President of Brazil).
- **Digest/Summary:** Rectifies Law 2942 of 08/11/56 which provides for the payment of teaching gratuity ("RETIFICA A LEI 2942 DE 081156 QUE DISPÕE SOBRE O PAGAMENTO DE GRATIFICAÇÃO DE MAGISTERIO.").
- **Main Subjects:** Ministry of Education (Ministerio Da Educação - MEC), Rectification, Teacher (Professor), Teaching Gratuity (Gratificação De Magisterio), Payment (Pagamento).
- **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1958-03-12;3374.
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3374.htm.
- **Wikimedia Project:** Listed on WikiProject Brazilian Laws.

## FAQs
**What is the function of Law No. 3374/1958?**
This law functions as a rectification measure, meaning it was enacted to correct or clarify errors in a previous piece of legislation, specifically Law No. 2942 of November 8, 1956.

**What topics does this law address?**
The law addresses administrative and educational subjects, specifically focusing on the Ministry of Education, the status of teachers, and the payment of a specific bonus known as "Teaching Gratuity" (Gratificação de Magistério).

**Who signed this law into effect?**
The law was promulgated by Juscelino Kubitschek, who was serving as the President of Brazil at the time, through the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

**Where can the official text of this law be found?**
The official text is available on the Brazilian government's Planalto website at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3374.htm and is indexed under the LexML Brazil ID: urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1958-03-12;3374.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3374 of March 12, 1958, serves as a specific example of the Brazilian legislative process, illustrating how statutes are used to amend, correct, or ratify previous legal documents—in this case, Law 2942 of 1956. Its existence highlights the importance of precision in legal documentation regarding financial entitlements for public servants, specifically teachers. By focusing on the "payment of teaching gratuity," the law touches upon the administrative relationship between the state and educational professionals, ensuring that financial compensations are legally accurate and enforceable. Furthermore, as a statute, it represents a manifestation of statutory law in Brazil, embodying the legal norms and rules enacted by the government during the late 1950s.

## Notable For
- **Legislative Rectification:** Specifically enacted to correct or ratify Law No. 2942 of November 8, 1956.
- **Educational Policy:** Directly addresses the payment and terms of "Teaching Gratuity" (Gratificação de Magisterio) for teachers.
- **Historical Context:** Promulgated during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, a significant period in Brazilian industrialization and development.
- **Jurisdictional Scope:** Applies federally across Brazil.
- **Publication Location:** Published in Rio de Janeiro, which was a key administrative center, though the capital was transitioning to Brasília around this time.

## Body

### Identification and Classification
Law No. 3374 of March 12, 1958, formally titled "Lei nº 3374, de 12 de março de 1958," is classified as a **statute**. As a statute, it is a formal written document enacted to create or modify law. It falls under the broader category of legal acts and is considered a subclass of written work and rule. It manifests statutory law and contains legal norms applicable within the Federative Republic of Brazil.

### Historical and Political Context
The law was approved and promulgated on **March 12, 1958**, by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The specific head of state responsible for its enactment was **Juscelino Kubitschek**, who served as President during this era. The law was published in **Rio de Janeiro**, which served as a major hub for government publications. At this time, Brazil was operating under the presidential system as a federal republic, with its legal system grounded in the Constitution of 1946 (which preceded the 1967 constitution mentioned in broader Brazilian historical context).

### Legislative Content and Purpose
The primary function of this statute was to **rectify** (correct or ratify) a previous legal document: **Law No. 2942 of November 8, 1956**. The core subject of this rectification concerned the **payment of teaching gratuity** (in Portuguese: "Gratificação De Magisterio"). The law digest explicitly states: "RETIFICA A LEI 2942 DE 081156 QUE DISPÕE SOBRE O PAGAMENTO DE GRATIFICAÇÃO DE MAGISTERIO."

### Subject Matter and Application
The law's main subjects provide insight into its specific application areas:
- **Ministry of Education (MEC):** The law is directly related to the administrative body overseeing education in Brazil.
- **Teacher (Professor):** The legislation targets the professional class of educators.
- **Teaching Gratuity (Gratificação De Magisterio):** This is the specific financial bonus or payment subject to the legal rectification.
- **Payment (Pagamento):** The act of disbursing this financial entitlement is a central theme.
- **Rectification (Retificação):** The procedural nature of the law itself.

The law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil** and is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**.

### Official References and Access
The law is indexed in Brazilian legal databases and global knowledge systems:
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1958-03-12;3374`.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3374/1958.
- **Official URL:** The full text is accessible via the Planalto government website at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3374.htm`.
- **WikiProject:** It is listed on the **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, indicating its recognition in structured knowledge projects.

### Broader Legal Significance
As an instance of a **statute**, this law shares characteristics common to all such legal documents. Statutes are generally considered part of the **public domain** (under doctrines like the "edict of government doctrine" in jurisdictions such as the US and France), meaning they are not subject to copyright. This law serves as a concrete example of how Brazilian statutory law functions to record and amend legal rules, specifically regarding financial obligations of the state to its educational workforce. It is a part of the broader "legal act" category and resulted from the legislative process.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1958-03-12;3374)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3374&ano=1958&data=12/03/1958&ato=b30Mzaq50dRRVT9b1)
3. LexML Brasil