# Law No. 3505 of December 24, 1958

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648521](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648521)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3505-of-december-24-1958

## Summary
Law No. 3505 of December 24, 1958, is a Brazilian statute enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek that created new positions within the judiciary of the Federal District and provided for special budgetary adjustments. It represents a formal legislative act that modified the administrative and financial structure of Brazil's federal judicial system.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3505, de 24 de dezembro de 1958
- **Type:** Brazilian federal statute (instance of "statute" as a formal written legal document)
- **Enactment Date:** December 24, 1958
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil (President Juscelino Kubitschek)
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies to Brazil, specifically targeting the Federal District's judiciary
- **Primary Focus:** Creation of public offices and special budgetary adjustments (Credito Especial)
- **Language:** Written in Brazilian Portuguese
- **Publication Location:** Rio de Janeiro (then capital of Brazil)
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3505/1958
- **Digital Identifier:** lexml_brazil_id: urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1958-12-24;3505
- **Online Availability:** Full text available at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3505.htm
- **Classification:** Part of Brazil's statutory law framework, classified as a "legal norm" within the broader "law" and "legal act" categories
- **WikiProject:** Included in WikiProject Brazilian Laws
- **Main Subjects:** Special budgetary adjustment, creation of positions, Federal District, judiciary, public office

## FAQs

**What does Law No. 3505 of 1958 actually do?**
This law primarily creates new positions within the judiciary of Brazil's Federal District while also making special budgetary adjustments (Credito Especial) to accommodate these changes. It represents a targeted administrative reform within the federal judicial system during President Juscelino Kubitschek's administration.

**Who signed this law into effect?**
The law was promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek on December 24, 1958, as part of his presidential authority over federal legislation. Kubitschek, known for his ambitious development programs including the construction of Brasília, signed this as one of many administrative measures during his term (1956-1961).

**Where was this law officially published?**
The law was published in Rio de Janeiro, which served as Brazil's capital until April 21, 1960, when the government officially relocated to Brasília. This places the law in the final years of Rio's status as the national capital.

**What specific areas does this law address?**
The legislation focuses on two main areas: 1) The creation of new public offices (cargos públicos) within the Federal District's judiciary system, and 2) Special budgetary allocations (Credito Especial) to fund these new positions and associated judicial operations.

**How is this law classified in legal systems?**
In legal taxonomy, this is classified as a "statute" - a formal written document that creates law. It serves as a manifestation of statutory law, functioning as both a "written work" and a "rule" within legal knowledge systems. The law is specifically categorized under judicial administration and public office creation.

**Is this law still in effect today?**
The entry doesn't specify whether the law remains active or has been superseded by later legislation. However, as a formal statute from 1958, it would remain part of Brazil's legal history and potentially still applicable unless explicitly repealed. The Federal District's judicial structure has evolved significantly since 1958, particularly with Brasília's development as the new capital.

**How can someone access the full text of this law?**
The complete text is available online through multiple official sources: 1) The Brazilian Presidency's legislation portal (https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3505.htm), 2) The LexML Brazil legal information system (urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1958-12-24;3505), and 3) The federal legislation database (https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br).

**What makes this law significant in Brazilian legal history?**
This law represents a specific moment in Brazil's judicial administration during the transition period when Rio de Janeiro was still the capital but Brasília was being developed. It reflects the Kubitschek administration's approach to federal governance and judicial organization during a period of rapid national development.

## Why It Matters

Law No. 3505 of 1958 matters as a concrete example of how Brazil's federal government managed judicial administration during a transformative period in its history. Enacted just two years before the capital's relocation to Brasília, this statute demonstrates the administrative challenges of maintaining federal institutions during geographic and political transitions.

The law's focus on creating judicial positions and allocating special funds reveals the practical mechanisms through which Brazil's federal judiciary expanded to meet growing demands. As part of President Kubitschek's broader modernization efforts, this legislation contributed to strengthening federal institutions during a period when Brazil was asserting its position as a major developing nation.

For legal historians and administrative scholars, this statute provides insight into the bureaucratic processes of mid-20th century Brazil. It illustrates how specific legal instruments were used to implement policy changes within the judicial branch, offering a case study in how statutory law translates political priorities into operational reality.

The law's continued availability in digital repositories also demonstrates Brazil's commitment to legal transparency and public access to historical legislation, reinforcing principles of open government that remain important in contemporary Brazilian governance.

## Notable For

- **Historical Context:** Enacted during Juscelino Kubitschek's presidency (1956-1961), a period marked by ambitious national development projects including the construction of Brasília
- **Judicial Administration:** One of many laws that shaped the structure of Brazil's Federal District judiciary during the transition from Rio de Janeiro to Brasília as capital
- **Budgetary Mechanism:** Utilizes the "Credito Especial" (special credit) mechanism for funding new judicial positions
- **Presidential Legacy:** Part of Kubitschek's legislative output, which included numerous administrative reforms alongside his better-known infrastructure projects
- **Legal Documentation:** Preserved in multiple official digital repositories, demonstrating Brazil's comprehensive legal archiving system
- **Federal District Focus:** Specifically targets the judicial system of the Federal District during its final years as the national capital territory
- **Public Office Creation:** Establishes a precedent for how new judicial positions were legally created and funded in mid-20th century Brazil

## Body

### Legislative Context and Enactment

Law No. 3505 was promulgated on December 24, 1958, during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira (1956-1961). Kubitschek's administration is best remembered for its ambitious "Plano de Metas" (Targets Plan) which aimed to achieve "50 years of progress in 5" through massive infrastructure development, including the construction of Brasília as the new capital. This law represents one of the many administrative measures implemented to support federal operations during this period of rapid transformation.

The legislation was published in Rio de Janeiro, which remained Brazil's capital until April 21, 1960. This places the law in the final 16 months of Rio's 196-year tenure as the national capital (1763-1960). The Federal District at this time referred to the territory containing Rio de Janeiro, which would later be reorganized when Brasília became the new Federal District.

### Core Provisions and Structure

The law contains two primary components:

1. **Creation of Judicial Positions**: The statute establishes new public offices (cargos públicos) within the judiciary of the Federal District. While the exact number and types of positions aren't specified in the available data, the law's classification under "public office" creation suggests it addressed specific staffing needs in the federal judicial system.

2. **Special Budgetary Adjustments**: The law authorizes "Credito Especial" (special credit), a budgetary mechanism used in Brazilian public administration to allocate funds for unforeseen or urgent expenses. In this case, the special credit was designated to support the newly created judicial positions and their associated operational costs.

The combination of these elements indicates the law was designed to expand the capacity of the Federal District's judiciary while ensuring the necessary financial resources were available to support this expansion.

### Legal Classification and Framework

As a formal statute, Law No. 3505 represents a specific type of legal instrument within Brazil's civil law system. It is classified as:

- **Instance of**: "statute" (a formal written document that creates law)
- **Part of**: "law" and "legal act" in legal ontologies
- **Contains**: "legal norms" as its constituent parts
- **Result of**: "legislation" as the causative process
- **Creates**: "statutory law" as its effect

This classification places it within the broader framework of Brazilian legislative acts, distinguishable from other legal instruments like decrees, provisional measures, or constitutional amendments.

### Administrative and Historical Significance

The law's enactment during the Kubitschek administration connects it to a period of significant institutional development in Brazil. Several key contextual factors enhance its historical importance:

1. **Capital Transition Period**: Enacted just 16 months before Brasília became the capital, the law addressed judicial administration during the complex process of relocating federal institutions.

2. **Judicial Capacity Building**: The creation of new positions suggests the federal judiciary was experiencing increased caseloads or expanding its scope of operations during this period of national development.

3. **Budgetary Innovation**: The use of "Credito Especial" demonstrates how the Brazilian government managed financial resources to support institutional growth without requiring full budget cycle approvals.

4. **Presidential Priorities**: While Kubitschek is primarily associated with infrastructure projects, this law shows his administration also attended to the less visible but equally important work of strengthening federal institutions.

### Documentation and Accessibility

Law No. 3505 benefits from comprehensive digital preservation through multiple official channels:

1. **Presidency Portal**: The full text is available through the Brazilian Presidency's civil legislation database (https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3505.htm), which serves as the primary repository for federal laws.

2. **LexML System**: The law is cataloged in Brazil's LexML legal information system with the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1958-12-24;3505, ensuring its inclusion in the national legal information network.

3. **Legislation Database**: It appears in the federal legislation database (https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br) with reference code 867gXWU90dRRVT432, providing an additional access point for researchers and legal professionals.

This multi-platform availability ensures the law remains accessible for historical research, legal analysis, and administrative reference, supporting Brazil's commitment to transparency and public access to legislation.

### Relationship to Broader Legal Systems

The law exemplifies several fundamental characteristics of Brazilian statutory law:

1. **Federal Authority**: As a federal law, it demonstrates the national government's power to regulate judicial administration across federal territories, including the Federal District.

2. **Presidential Promulgation**: The law's approval by President Kubitschek illustrates the executive's role in the legislative process, particularly in promulgating laws passed by the National Congress.

3. **Specialized Focus**: Unlike comprehensive judicial reforms, this law addresses specific, targeted needs within the judicial system, showing how Brazilian legislation often takes an incremental approach to institutional development.

4. **Budgetary Integration**: The inclusion of special credit provisions highlights the interconnected nature of legal and financial administration in Brazilian governance.

### Comparative Context

When compared to other Brazilian laws of the period, Law No. 3505 stands out for its:

- **Focused Scope**: Unlike Kubitschek's more famous infrastructure laws (such as those creating development banks or authorizing Brasília's construction), this law deals with the less glamorous but essential work of judicial administration.

- **Federal District Specificity**: Most laws of national scope apply uniformly across states, but this law specifically targets the unique administrative needs of the Federal District during its transition period.

- **Dual Function**: The combination of position creation and budgetary allocation in a single law demonstrates the integrated approach to public administration characteristic of this era.

### Legacy and Long-Term Impact

While the immediate effects of creating specific judicial positions may have been absorbed into later organizational changes, the law contributes to several important legacies:

1. **Institutional Development**: It represents one building block in the evolution of Brazil's federal judiciary, which would later adapt to serve the new capital in Brasília.

2. **Administrative Precedent**: The law established patterns for how judicial expansions could be funded through special credit mechanisms, a practice that continues in various forms in Brazilian public administration.

3. **Historical Record**: As part of the official legislative record, it provides documentation of how the federal government managed judicial resources during a critical transition period.

4. **Legal Continuity**: The law's preservation in digital repositories ensures that the complete legislative history of Brazil's judicial system remains available for future generations of legal scholars and administrators.

### Connection to Juscelino Kubitschek's Administration

President Kubitschek's signature on this law connects it to his broader governance philosophy. While best known for his "50 years in 5" development plan, Kubitschek also recognized the importance of strengthening federal institutions to support Brazil's economic and social progress. This law reflects that understanding by:

- Addressing the practical needs of the judiciary during a period of national transformation
- Using available budgetary mechanisms to fund necessary expansions
- Maintaining focus on federal administration even amid more visible infrastructure projects
- Demonstrating the administration's attention to the less visible but equally important work of institutional capacity building

The law thus serves as a reminder that Kubitschek's presidency involved not just the construction of physical infrastructure like Brasília, but also the strengthening of the administrative and judicial infrastructure necessary to govern an expanding nation.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1958-12-24;3505)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3505&ano=1958&data=24/12/1958&ato=867gXWU90dRRVT432)
3. LexML Brasil