# Law No. 3456 of November 18, 1958

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649336](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649336)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3456-of-november-18-1958

## Summary

Law No. 3456 of November 18, 1958 (Lei nº 3456/1958) is a Brazilian federal statute enacted by President Juscelino Kubitschek concerning budget matters and the financial year (Exercicio Financeiro) of the Federal Government of Brazil. Promulgated on November 18, 1958, in Rio de Janeiro, this law represents a formal legislative act within Brazil's statutory framework and is classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law. The law remains accessible through the official government portal and is cataloged in Brazilian legal databases under the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1958-11-18;3456.

## Key Facts

- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3456, de 18 de novembro de 1958
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3456/1958
- **Country of Origin:** Brazil
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (applies to the Federal Government of Brazil)
- **Publication Date:** November 18, 1958
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Signed By:** Juscelino Kubitschek (President of Brazil at the time)
- **Determination Method:** Promulgation
- **Classification:** Statute (instance of a formal written document that creates law)
- **Main Subjects:** Budget (Orçamento), Financial Year (Exercicio Financeiro), Federal Government of Brazil (União Federal), Rectification (Retificação)
- **LEXML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1958-11-18;3456
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3456.htm
- **Related Legal Concept:** Statute (a foundational legal concept classified as a written work and document that creates law)

## FAQs

**What type of legal document is Law No. 3456 of November 18, 1958?**

Law No. 3456/1958 is a statute—a formal written document that creates law. In the Brazilian legal system, statutes are the physical expression of legal rules enacted by legislative authority. This law falls under the category of federal legislation and is part of Brazil's statutory law framework.

**Who enacted Law No. 3456/1958?**

The law was promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek, who served as President of Brazil from 1956 to 1961. The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil on November 18, 1958.

**What subject matter does Law No. 3456/1958 address?**

The law addresses matters related to the Brazilian federal budget (Orçamento) and the financial year (Exercicio Financeiro) of the Federal Government of Brazil (União Federal). It also contains provisions related to rectification (Retificação), suggesting it may have amended or corrected earlier budget legislation.

**Where can Law No. 3456/1958 be accessed?**

The full text of the law is available through the official Brazilian government portal at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3456.htm. It is also cataloged in the LEXML legal database under the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1958-11-18;3456.

**What is the relationship between Law No. 3456/1958 and the concept of a statute?**

Law No. 3456/1958 is an instance of a statute—a formal written document that creates law. Statutes are foundational legal concepts classified as written works and documents that manifest statutory law. In Brazil, statutes like this law are created through the legislative process and serve as the official record of legal rules enacted by government authority.

## Why It Matters

Law No. 3456 of November 18, 1958 matters for several reasons within the Brazilian legal and governmental framework. First, it represents a concrete example of how the Brazilian federal government manages its budgetary processes through statutory authority. Budgetary laws are fundamental to democratic governance as they determine how public resources are allocated and spent, making this legislation a critical component of Brazil's fiscal governance during the Kubitschek administration.

Second, this law exemplifies the statutory framework that governs the Federal Government of Brazil. As a statute, it carries the force of law and establishes binding rules that apply to the federal government itself—a crucial aspect of the rule of law principle. The law's focus on the financial year (Exercicio Financeiro) indicates it was part of Brazil's efforts to formalize and regulate government budgeting procedures.

Third, the law demonstrates the continuity of Brazilian legal institutions. Despite political changes over the decades since 1958, this statute remains part of Brazil's legal framework and can still be referenced in legal contexts. Its availability through official government portals ensures transparency and public access to the laws that govern the nation.

Finally, as a product of the Juscelino Kubitschek presidency, this law reflects the developmentalist era of Brazilian history when significant infrastructure projects and modernization efforts were underway. The budget provisions contained in this law would have supported initiatives such as the construction of Brasília, which was inaugurated in 1960.

## Notable For

- **Federal Budget Authority:** Represents a formal exercise of statutory power over federal budgetary matters in Brazil
- **Presidential Enactment:** Signed into law by President Juscelino Kubitschek during his developmentalist administration (1956-1961)
- **Legal Classification:** Classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law—making it part of Brazil's statutory law framework
- **Historical Significance:** Enacted during a transformative period in Brazilian history, just two years before the inauguration of Brasília
- **Public Accessibility:** Remains available through official government portals, demonstrating Brazil's commitment to public access to legal texts
- **Legal Database Integration:** Cataloged in LEXML, Brazil's centralized legal information system, ensuring its continued legal relevance

## Body

### Legislative Context and Enactment

Law No. 3456 of November 18, 1958 was promulgated during a significant period in Brazilian history. The law was enacted by President Juscelino Kubitschek, who served as the President of Brazil from 1956 to 1961. Kubitschek's presidency was characterized by ambitious developmentalist policies aimed at modernizing Brazil's infrastructure and economy. The year 1958 was particularly notable as it fell just two years before the inauguration of Brasília, the new Brazilian capital, which occurred on April 22, 1960.

The law was promulgated in Rio de Janeiro, which served as Brazil's capital at the time. The formal approval was granted by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, with the determination method being promulgation—a formal act that gives legal force to legislation passed by the legislature. This process reflects the standard procedure for federal legislation in Brazil, where the President plays a key role in the enactment of statutes.

### Subject Matter and Legal Content

Law No. 3456/1958 primarily addresses matters related to the Brazilian federal budget (Orçamento) and the financial year (Exercicio Financeiro) of the Federal Government of Brazil (União Federal). Budgetary laws in Brazil serve as essential instruments for government operations, determining how public funds will be collected and allocated across various sectors and programs.

The law also contains provisions related to rectification (Retificação), suggesting it may have served to correct, amend, or clarify earlier legislation regarding federal finances. This type of corrective legislation is common in legal systems where laws are periodically updated to address ambiguities, errors, or changed circumstances.

The main subjects identified for this law include:
- Orçamento (Budget)
- Exercicio Financeiro (Financial Year)
- União Federal (Federal Government of Brazil)
- Retificação (Rectification)

### Classification and Legal Framework

In the Brazilian legal system, Law No. 3456/1958 is classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law. This classification places it within the broader category of statutory law, which encompasses acts, executive orders, and by-laws. Statutes are distinguished from other legal sources such as case law (jurisprudence) and customary law.

The concept of a statute is fundamental to legal systems based on civil law traditions, such as Brazil's. Statutes are formal expressions of legislative will, created through the legislative process and carrying the force of law. They are considered manifestations of statutory law and are composed of legal norms that establish rights, duties, and obligations.

As a statute, Law No. 3456/1958 is part of a hierarchical system where federal laws must conform to the Brazilian Constitution. The current Constitution of Brazil was promulgated on October 5, 1988, but earlier constitutional frameworks were in effect in 1958, and legislation from that era may still be in force to the extent it has not been expressly revoked or declared unconstitutional.

### Accessibility and Legal Documentation

Law No. 3456/1958 remains accessible to the public through official government channels. The full text of the law can be found at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3456.htm, which is the official portal of the Brazilian federal government. This accessibility reflects the principle that citizens should have access to the laws that govern them.

The law is also cataloged in LEXML, Brazil's centralized legal information system, under the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1958-11-18;3456. This system provides a structured approach to legal documentation, allowing researchers, lawyers, and citizens to locate and reference Brazilian legislation efficiently.

The official legal citation for this statute is "Lei nº 3456/1958," which follows the standard Brazilian convention for referencing federal laws. This citation format includes the law number (3456) and the year of enactment (1958), allowing for precise identification in legal documents and scholarly works.

### Relationship to Broader Legal Concepts

Law No. 3456/1958 exists within a network of legal concepts that define the Brazilian legal system. As a statute, it is related to the broader concept of legislation—the process by which laws are created—and to the concept of legal acts, which encompass the various ways in which legal effects are produced.

The law's focus on budgetary matters connects it to the field of public finance law, which governs how governments raise and spend money. Budgetary statutes like this one are essential for democratic accountability, as they provide the legal basis for government expenditure and enable legislative oversight of executive branch activities.

The statute also relates to the concept of the federal government as a legal entity. In Brazil, the Federal Government (União Federal) is a distinct legal entity with its own rights and obligations, and laws like No. 3456/1958 help define its operations and responsibilities.

### Historical Context

When Law No. 3456/1958 was enacted, Brazil was experiencing significant political and social transformation. The country had been governed under various political systems since independence from Portugal in 1822, including periods of monarchy and military rule. By 1958, Brazil was operating as a republic with a presidential system.

The Kubitschek administration (1956-1961) was particularly focused on economic development and modernization. One of Kubitschek's most ambitious projects was the construction of Brasília, a new capital city in the country's interior. The budgetary provisions in Law No. 3456/1958 would have supported this and other developmental initiatives underway at the time.

The law was enacted in Rio de Janeiro, which served as Brazil's capital until 1960. The transfer of the capital to Brasília was a major event in Brazilian history, and laws from the Rio de Janeiro period represent an important part of Brazil's legislative heritage.

### Legal System Context

Brazil's legal system is based on the civil law tradition, which emphasizes codified statutes rather than judicial precedents. In this system, statutes like Law No. 3456/1958 are primary sources of law, and courts are generally bound to apply the law as written rather than create law through judicial decisions.

Federal laws in Brazil must be enacted through the legislative process, which involves consideration and approval by the National Congress (Congresso Nacional), composed of the Federal Senate (Senado Federal) and the Chamber of Deputies (Câmara dos Deputados). Once passed and promulgated by the President, federal laws become binding throughout the national territory.

The Brazilian legal system also recognizes the principle of hierarchy of norms, with the Constitution at the top, followed by laws, decrees, and other normative acts. Laws like No. 3456/1958 occupy an important position in this hierarchy, as they establish general rules that apply to the federal government and its operations.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1958-11-18;3456)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3456&ano=1958&data=18/11/1958&ato=b2foXWE90dRRVT79a)