# Law No. 3542 of February 11, 1959

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648685](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648685)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3542-of-february-11-1959

## Summary
**Law No. 3542 of February 11, 1959** (Portuguese: *Lei nº 3542, de 11 de fevereiro de 1959*) is a Brazilian federal statute enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek. Its primary function was to establish the **National Campaign Against Leprosy** (*Campanha Nacional Contra a Lepra*) and to set forth related administrative and budgetary measures. As a formal legal instrument, it constitutes statutory law applicable to the jurisdiction of Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3542, de 11 de fevereiro de 1959.
- **Date of Enactment:** February 11, 1959.
- **Promulgating Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Signing Official:** President Juscelino Kubitschek.
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Publication Location:** Rio de Janeiro (then the federal capital).
- **Legal Classification:** Instance of a statute (formal written document creating law).
- **Primary Subject:** Institutes the National Campaign Against Leprosy (*Campanha Nacional Contra a Lepra*).
- **Administrative Subjects:** Budget (*Orçamento*), Creation (*Criação*), Elaboration, Organization (*Organização*), and Inclusion (*Inclusão*).
- **Responsible Ministry:** Ministry of Health of Brazil (*Ministerio Da Saude - Ms*).
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3542/1959.
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-02-11;3542`.
- **Official URL:** Available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3542.htm`.

## FAQs
**What was the main purpose of Law No. 3542?**
The law was enacted to institute the National Campaign Against Leprosy (*Campanha Nacional Contra a Lepra*). It also provided for administrative organization, budget allocation, and the inclusion of related measures within the Ministry of Health.

**Who signed Law No. 3542 into effect?**
The law was approved and promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek on February 11, 1959, acting in his capacity as the head of the Executive Branch of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

**Where was this law originally published?**
Although Brazil's capital moved to Brasília in April 1960, this law was published in **Rio de Janeiro** on February 11, 1959, as Rio remained the federal capital at that time.

**How is this law classified legally?**
It is classified as a **statute**, which is a formal written document that creates law. It is part of the body of statutory law and serves as a public domain legal edict applicable to all of Brazil.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3542 represents a specific historical moment in Brazilian public health policy, formalizing the federal government's strategic approach to combating leprosy (Hansen's disease) in the late 1950s. By establishing a "National Campaign," the law moved the issue beyond local or isolated medical efforts into a structured, state-sponsored program involving the Ministry of Health.

Furthermore, the law serves as a concrete example of the legislative output during the Juscelino Kubitschek administration, a period marked by rapid modernization and developmentalism. It illustrates how the federal government utilized statutory instruments to organize and fund (*Orçamento*) new administrative bodies (*Criação*, *Organização*) necessary for national development and social welfare. As a statute, it embodies the "edict of government doctrine," meaning it is a public domain document that serves as the definitive, accessible rule of law for the Brazilian populace.

## Notable For
- **Public Health Initiative:** Specifically targeting leprosy through a unified national campaign.
- **Pre-Brasília Legislation:** Being published in Rio de Janeiro prior to the inauguration of Brasília as the new capital in April 1960.
- **Executive Origin:** Being a law promulgated by Juscelino Kubitschek, a pivotal figure in Brazilian history known for his "50 years in 5" development slogan.
- **Statutory Status:** Serving as a manifestation of statutory law within the Brazilian legal system, distinct from a mere decree or administrative ruling.

## Body

### Definition and Legal Nature
Law No. 3542 is a **statute**, a formal written document enacted to create law. Within the hierarchy of legal concepts, it is classified as an instance of a "legal term or legal concept" and a subclass of "written work" and "document." As a statute, it serves as the manifestation of statutory law in Brazil, resulting from the legislative process and formal promulgation by the head of state.

### Legislative Content and Subject Matter
The core content of Law No. 3542, as recorded in its law digest, is the institution of the **National Campaign Against Leprosy** (*INSTITUI A CAMPANHA NACIONAL CONTRA A LEPRA E DA OUTRAS PROVIDENCIAS*).

Beyond this primary objective, the law addresses several administrative necessities required to implement the campaign. These subjects include:
- **Budget (*Orçamento*):** Allocation of financial resources.
- **Creation (*Criação*) and Elaboration:** Establishment of the necessary frameworks and drafting of rules.
- **Organization (*Organização*):** Structuring of the involved entities.
- **Inclusion (*Inclusão*):** Integration of provisions or entities into the legal framework.
- **Authority:** Specific reference to the **Ministry of Health of Brazil** (*Ministerio Da Saude - Ms*) as the overseeing body.

### Historical and Political Context
The law was signed and promulgated on **February 11, 1959**, by **Juscelino Kubitschek**, the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil at the time. The determination method for this law was "promulgation," signifying the official proclamation of the law's validity.

Geographically, the law is tied to **Brazil**, specifically the **Federative Republic of Brazil**. At the time of publication, the seat of the federal government was in **Rio de Janeiro**. This law was enacted roughly 14 months before the federal capital was officially moved to Brasília on April 21, 1960.

### Identification and Access
The law is officially cited as **Lei nº 3542/1959**. It maintains a unique identifier within the Brazilian legal information system, the **LexML Brazil ID**: `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-02-11;3542`.

As a government edict, the text is in the public domain. It is available for public access via the official website of the Presidency of the Republic at the Planalto Palace:
- **URL:** `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3542.htm`

The law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil** and is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**. It is currently indexed and maintained within modern structured data projects, appearing on the focus list of **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-02-11;3542)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3542&ano=1959&data=11/02/1959&ato=58bIzZE5UMRRVT48c)
3. LexML Brasil