# Law No. 3537 of February 2, 1959

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648620](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648620)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3537-of-february-2-1959

## Summary
Law No. 3537 of February 2, 1959, is a Brazilian federal statute enacted to authorize a special budgetary adjustment known as a "Credito Especial" specifically for the Ministry of Education. Promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek, this formal written document serves as the official legal instrument for allocating specific financial resources to the Ministry of Education (Mec) within the Federative Republic of Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3537, de 2 de fevereiro de 1959.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3537/1959.
- **Classification:** Statute (a formal written document that creates law).
- **Enactment Date:** February 2, 1959.
- **Promulgation Date:** February 2, 1959.
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Head of State at Enactment:** Juscelino Kubitschek.
- **Primary Subject:** Special budgetary adjustment (stated as "Credito Especial").
- **Beneficiary Entity:** Ministry of Education (stated as "Ministerio Da Educação (Mec)").
- **Jurisdiction:** Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Language of Work:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro.
- **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-02-02;3537.
- **Official Online Source:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3537.htm.
- **Reference Source 1:** https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-02-02;3537 (Accessed 2021-01-28).
- **Reference Source 2:** https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3537&ano=1959&data=02/02/1959&ato=8acEzYE5UMRRVTe42 (Accessed 2021-02-17).
- **Wikidata Description:** Brazilian law.
- **Instance Of:** Statute.

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 3537/1959?**
The law was enacted to establish a special budgetary adjustment, specifically designated as a "Credito Especial," to provide financial resources to the Ministry of Education. It functions as a fiscal mechanism to fund specific educational initiatives or operational needs within the federal government.

**Who signed and promulgated this legislation?**
The statute was approved and promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under the leadership of President Juscelino Kubitschek. The act of promulgation occurred on the same day the law was approved, February 2, 1959.

**Where can the official text of this law be accessed?**
The full text is available online via the official Planalto government portal at the specific URL for laws from 1950 to 1969. It is also indexed in the LexML Brazil system, which provides a unique URN identifier for the document.

**Which government body is the focus of this law?**
The legislation explicitly targets the Ministry of Education, referred to in the text as "Ministerio Da Educação (Mec)." The budgetary adjustment is intended to support the operations or projects of this specific ministry.

**In what language was the law originally written and published?**
The document was drafted and published in Brazilian Portuguese, which is the official language of the Federative Republic of Brazil. All official citations and references to the law maintain this linguistic standard.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3537 of February 2, 1959, represents a critical mechanism in the Brazilian federal budgetary process, demonstrating how the executive branch utilizes statutory instruments to allocate specific funds to key ministries. By creating a "Credito Especial," the law addresses immediate or unforeseen financial requirements for the Ministry of Education that may not have been covered in the original annual budget. This type of legislation is essential for maintaining the operational continuity of government agencies, ensuring that educational programs can proceed without interruption due to funding gaps. Furthermore, as a formal statute, it establishes a transparent, legally binding record of public expenditure, reinforcing the principles of fiscal accountability and the rule of law within the Brazilian administrative state. Its existence in the public domain ensures that citizens and legal scholars can verify how public funds were directed toward education during the Kubitschek administration.

## Notable For
- **Specific Fiscal Instrument:** It is a distinct example of a "Credito Especial" (Special Credit) used to modify the federal budget for a specific purpose.
- **Targeted Allocation:** The law is notable for its singular focus on the Ministry of Education, highlighting the prioritization of educational funding in 1959.
- **Historical Context:** It was enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, a period known for significant infrastructure and development projects in Brazil.
- **Digital Preservation:** The law is fully digitized and accessible via the LexML Brazil system and the Planalto portal, ensuring long-term public access.
- **Unique Identifier:** It possesses a specific URN (urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-02-02;3537) that uniquely identifies it within the national legal database.
- **Single-Day Enactment:** The law was approved, promulgated, and published within the same timeframe, reflecting an efficient legislative process for budgetary adjustments.

## Body

### Definition and Legal Classification
Law No. 3537 of February 2, 1959, is classified as a **statute**, which is defined as a formal written document that creates law. In the context of the Brazilian legal system, this statute functions as a specific legal instrument enacted by the federal government. It falls under the broader category of "Brazilian law" and serves as a manifestation of statutory law. As a statute, it is distinct from general legal concepts or abstract theories; it is the tangible, written record of a legal rule that has been formally enacted. The document is an instance of a "legal term or legal concept" and is taxonomically a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." Its creation follows the standard legislative procedure involving draft laws and is caused by the act of legislation.

### Subject Matter and Scope
The primary subject of this statute is a **special budgetary adjustment**, explicitly stated in the text as "Credito Especial." This indicates that the law was not creating a new policy or criminal code but was rather adjusting the financial allocations of the federal government. The specific beneficiary of this adjustment is the **Ministry of Education**, identified in the source material as "Ministerio Da Educação (Mec)." The law's scope is therefore limited to the financial operations of this specific ministry. It does not apply to other branches of government or other ministries, making it a targeted fiscal measure. The legal citation for this text is "Lei nº 3537/1959," which is the standard format for referencing this specific statute in legal and academic contexts.

### Enactment and Promulgation History
The legislative journey of Law No. 3537 culminated on **February 2, 1959**. On this date, the law was approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The determination method for its enactment was **promulgation**, a formal act that confirms the law's validity and orders its publication. The head of state responsible for this action was **Juscelino Kubitschek**, who served as the President of Brazil at the time. The place of publication was **Rio de Janeiro**, which served as the capital of Brazil prior to the move to Brasília in 1960. The language of the work is **Brazilian Portuguese**, consistent with all federal legislation in the country. The date of publication aligns with the date of approval and promulgation, indicating a streamlined process typical for budgetary adjustments.

### Digital Identity and Authority Control
In the digital age, Law No. 3537/1959 is identified by several unique digital and authority control identifiers. The **LexML Brazil ID** is `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-02-02;3537`, a standardized Uniform Resource Name that allows for precise citation and retrieval within the national legal information system. The law is hosted on the official government website at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3537.htm`, ensuring public access to the primary text. It is also indexed in the **Wikidata** knowledge base, where it is described as a "Brazilian law" and linked to the broader concept of a statute. The document is part of the **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, indicating its inclusion in a collaborative effort to document and verify Brazilian legislation.

### Jurisdiction and Applicability
The statute applies exclusively to the **Federative Republic of Brazil**. Its jurisdiction is federal, meaning it governs matters at the national level rather than state or municipal levels. The law is binding on the federal government entities, specifically the Ministry of Education, and any other bodies involved in the execution of the budgetary adjustment. As a federal statute, it takes precedence over conflicting state or local laws regarding the specific budgetary allocation it authorizes. The law's applicability is tied to the Brazilian legal system and its constitutional framework, which mandates that all budgetary adjustments be enacted through formal statutes.

### References and Verification
The facts regarding Law No. 3537/1959 are supported by multiple authoritative references. The primary reference is the **LexML Brazil** portal, accessed on January 28, 2021, which provides the official URN and text of the law. A secondary reference is the **Presidency of the Republic's legislative archive**, accessed on February 17, 2021, which confirms the details of the promulgation and the involvement of President Juscelino Kubitschek. These sources ensure the accuracy of the date, the subject matter, and the approving authority. The consistency between these references validates the law's status as a legitimate and active part of the Brazilian legal code.

### Relationship to Broader Legal Concepts
This law exemplifies the function of a statute as a **formal written document** that creates law. It demonstrates how the abstract concept of "legislation" is transformed into a concrete "legal norm." The law is a part of the broader "law" and "legal act" categories, serving as a specific instance of how governments manage their finances. It is distinct from "draft laws," which are the precursors to such statutes, and from "executive orders" or "by-laws," which are other types of legal instruments included in the general definition of a statute. By focusing on a "special budgetary adjustment," it highlights the specific role statutes play in fiscal management, separate from their role in creating criminal, civil, or administrative codes.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-02-02;3537)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3537&ano=1959&data=02/02/1959&ato=8acEzYE5UMRRVTe42)