# Law No. 3552 of February 16, 1959

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648727](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648727)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3552-of-february-16-1959

## Summary
**Law No. 3552 of February 16, 1959** is a Brazilian federal statute that establishes administrative guidelines for municipalities and federal units. Promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek, the law addresses the organization of educational institutions, financial aid, and the competency of civil servants. It serves as a formal legal instrument within the Brazilian legal system, published in the nation's capital on the date of its enactment.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3552, de 16 de fevereiro de 1959.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3552/1959.
- **Entity Type:** Statute (formal written document that creates law).
- **Country:** Brazil.
- **Publication Date:** February 16, 1959.
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Signatory:** Juscelino Kubitschek (President).
- **Determination Method:** Promulgation.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil.
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-02-16;3552`.
- **Official URL:** Available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l3552.htm`.
- **Main Subjects:** Municipality of Brazil, Federative units of Brazil (States), Ministry of Education, Educational institutions, Civil servants, Financial aid, Competency, Contracts, Administrative Organization.

## FAQs
**What is the legal classification of Law No. 3552?**
It is classified as a statute, which is a formal written document that creates law. It functions as a manifestation of statutory law and serves as an official record of legal rules enacted by the Brazilian government.

**Who authorized and signed this law?**
The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil and was promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek on February 16, 1959.

**What topics does the law address?**
The law focuses on the administrative organization of Brazilian municipalities and states. Its main subjects include the Ministry of Education, educational institutions, financial aid, civil servant competency, and the establishment of contracts and goals.

**Where was the law published and in what language?**
It was published in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 16, 1959. The text is written in Brazilian Portuguese.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3552 of February 16, 1959, matters as a specific manifestation of statutory law within the Brazilian legal framework. It represents the exercise of government authority to regulate administrative organization and education policy at a federal level. As a statute, it provides the concrete, written evidence of legal rules governing municipalities and federal units, ensuring that mandates regarding financial aid, civil servant competency, and educational institutions are documented and accessible. Its existence reinforces the rule of law by defining the scope of administrative organization and the objectives of government contracts during the tenure of President Juscelino Kubitschek.

## Notable For
- **Administrative Organization:** Specifically targets the administrative structuring of Brazilian municipalities and states.
- **Educational Focus:** Directly involves the Ministry of Education and the regulation of educational institutions.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during the government of Juscelino Kubitschek, a significant period of Brazilian development.
- **Public Accessibility:** Fully available online via the Planalto government archives, ensuring public access to the legal text.
- **Standardized Identification:** Cataloged under the LexML system with the unique identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-02-16;3552`.

## Body

### Legislative Definition and Classification
Law No. 3552 is formally classified as a **statute**. A statute is defined as a formal written document that creates law, encompassing acts, executive orders, and by-laws. It is a foundational legal concept, serving as the manifestation of statutory law. In the context of knowledge systems, a statute is a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule," and is distinct from general concepts of "legislation" or "legal act." This law exists as a tangible record of legal rules enacted by the Brazilian government.

### Enactment and Authority
The law was enacted on **February 16, 1959**. It was approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil** and specifically promulgated by **Juscelino Kubitschek**, who served as the determinant authority. The legal citation for this instrument is **Lei nº 3552/1959**. The official place of publication listed for this statute is **Rio de Janeiro**, which was the federal capital at the time.

### Subject Matter and Scope
The law encompasses a broad range of administrative and educational subjects. It explicitly addresses the **municipality of Brazil** and **federative units of Brazil** (referred to as "Estados"). The legislation regulates the **Ministry of Education** (Ministerio Da Educação - MEC) and outlines provisions for **educational institutions** ("Estabelecimento De Ensino").

Key thematic areas include:
- **Administrative Organization ("Organização Administrativa"):** The law provides frameworks for the arrangement ("Organização") of administrative bodies.
- **Financial Aid ("Auxilio Financeiro"):** It establishes rules for financial assistance.
- **Civil Servants ("Servidor"):** The text defines competency ("Competencia") requirements for public servants.
- **Contracts and Goals:** It addresses the formation of **contracts** ("Contrato") and the definition of **goals** ("Objetivo").

### Jurisdiction and Language
The statute applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil**. The language of the work is identified as **Brazilian Portuguese**. As a legal document, it falls under the public domain status typical of government edicts, ensuring it is not subject to copyright restrictions.

### Identification and Access
The law is indexed in the **LexML Brazil** system with the URN `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-02-16;3552`. It is tracked by the **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**. The full text of the law is accessible to the public via the official government portal of the Presidency of the Republic at the URL `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l3552.htm`. References for this data include the LexML portal and the official legislation portal of the Brazilian Presidency, with retrieval dates noted in 2021.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-02-16;3552)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3552&ano=1959&data=16/02/1959&ato=d9aETQU5UMRRVT798)