# Law No. 3521 of January 2, 1959

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649392](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649392)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3521-of-january-2-1959

## Summary
**Law No. 3521 of January 2, 1959** (Portuguese: *Lei nº 3521, de 2 de janeiro de 1959*) is a Brazilian federal statute enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek. Promulgated and published on January 2, 1959, from Rio de Janeiro, the law addresses specific budgetary and administrative matters, including "Função Gratificada" (gratified function), "Credito Especial" (special budgetary adjustment), and the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Transport.

## Key Facts
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 3521, de 2 de janeiro de 1959
- **Type of Legal Instrument:** Statute (formal written document creating law)
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (Federative Republic of Brazil)
- **Date of Publication/Promulgation:** January 2, 1959
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil; Juscelino Kubitschek (President)
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-01-02;3521`
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3521/1959
- **Main Subjects:** Função Gratificada (Gratified Function), Credito Especial (Special Budgetary Adjustment), Ministry of Finance of Brazil (Ministério da Fazenda), Ministry of Transport of Brazil (Ministério da Viação e Obras Públicas)
- **Source/Reference URL:** Available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3531.htm` (Note: The reference URL in the source material points to this address, though the law number in the path appears slightly mismatched; the Lexml URN is definitive)
- **Wikidata Description:** Brazilian law
- **Wikimedia Project Focus:** On the focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws

## FAQs
**Who approved and promulgated Law No. 3521 of January 2, 1959?**
The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil and promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek on January 2, 1959.

**What are the primary subjects addressed in Law No. 3521?**
The statute primarily concerns administrative and financial matters, specifically addressing "Função Gratificada" (gratified function), "Credito Especial" (special budgetary adjustment), the Ministry of Finance of Brazil, and the Ministry of Transport of Brazil.

**What type of legal document is Law No. 3521/1959?**
It is a statute (in Portuguese: *Lei*), which is a formal written document that creates law. In the context of Brazilian federal law, it is a legislative act applicable to the entire Federative Republic of Brazil.

**How is Law No. 3521 officially identified and cited?**
Its official legal citation is "Lei nº 3521/1959" and it bears the Lexml Brazil identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-01-02;3521`.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3521 of January 2, 1959, serves as a specific instrument of federal governance in Brazil during a period of significant development and modernization under President Juscelino Kubitschek. Its importance lies in its role in the administrative machinery of the Brazilian state, particularly through its authorization of "Credito Especial" (special budgetary adjustments) and regulation of "Função Gratificada" (gratified functions), which are mechanisms for additional pay or budget allocation within government bodies like the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Transport. As a formal statute, it represents the exercise of legislative power to direct public resources and define public administrative functions, ensuring legal authority for specific financial and operational actions by the federal government at that time. It contributes to the broader body of Brazilian statutory law that governs the nation.

## Notable For
- **Kubitschek Era Legislation:** Enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, a period marked by ambitious development programs like the construction of Brasília.
- **Administrative Regulation:** Specifically targeted administrative functions and special budgetary credits within key ministries.
- **Rio de Janeiro as Capital:** Published from Rio de Janeiro, which was the capital of Brazil at the time (before the move to Brasília in April 1960).
- **Structured Legal Identification:** Assigned a distinct Lexml URN (`urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-01-02;3521`), integrating it into Brazil's official legal information system.
- **Focus of WikiProject:** Recognized as a subject of focus by WikiProject Brazilian Laws, indicating its relevance in legal knowledge organization.

## Body

### Classification and Jurisdiction
Law No. 3521 of January 2, 1959, is classified as a **statute** (in Portuguese: *Lei*). In the legal taxonomy, a statute is a formal written document that creates law. This specific statute is an instance of a legal act applicable at the federal level, meaning its jurisdiction extends to the entire **Federative Republic of Brazil**. It was written and published in **Brazilian Portuguese**, the official language of the country.

### Historical and Political Context
The law was promulgated on **January 2, 1959**, during a pivotal era in Brazilian history. It was approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil** and the head of state responsible for its promulgation was **Juscelino Kubitschek**. Kubitschek's presidency (1956–1961) is renowned for its "50 years in 5" development slogan and the construction of the new capital, Brasília. Law No. 3521 was signed and published from **Rio de Janeiro**, which served as the capital of Brazil until April 1960, placing this legislation in the final years of Rio's status as the seat of federal power.

### Main Subjects and Administrative Scope
The content of Law No. 3521 addresses several specific administrative and financial matters. According to its structured data, the main subjects are:
- **Função Gratificada (Gratified Function):** A mechanism in Brazilian public administration associated with additional pay or gratification for specific functions.
- **Credito Especial (Special Budgetary Adjustment):** A designation for a special credit or budgetary allocation, typically used for unforeseen or urgent expenses.
- **Ministry of Finance of Brazil (Ministério da Fazenda):** The federal ministry responsible for the country's finances and economic policy.
- **Ministry of Transport of Brazil (Ministério da Viação e Obras Públicas):** The federal ministry overseeing transportation and public works, a critical entity during the infrastructure-heavy Kubitschek administration.

### Legal Identification and Citations
The law is formally identified through several legal and digital identifiers, ensuring its precise reference in legal databases and official records:
- **Title:** Lei nº 3521, de 2 de janeiro de 1959.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3521/1959.
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-01-02;3521`. This URN (Uniform Resource Name) is part of Brazil's official system for identifying legal documents.
- **Wikidata Description:** Described simply as a "Brazilian law."

### Access and Documentation
The official text of the law is recorded and made available through official Brazilian government channels. Its primary reference is listed at the Lexml portal. A reference URL pointing to the official government archive is `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3531.htm` (noting that this specific path reference is provided in the source data). The law is also documented as being on the focus list of **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, a project aimed at improving coverage of Brazilian legal topics on Wikimedia platforms.

### Relationship to the Concept of Statute
As an instance of a statute, Law No. 3521 fits within the broader legal concept defined as a formal written document that creates law. This classification connects it to a wider legal framework where statutes are:
- Manifestations of statutory law.
- Subclasses of written works, documents, and rules.
- Distinct from but caused by the process of legislation.
- Generally considered to be in the public domain, as they are official legal documents not subject to copyright.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-01-02;3521)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3521&ano=1959&data=02/01/1959&ato=e89ATUE5UMRRVTbec)