# Law No. 3555 of May 6, 1959

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648737](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648737)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3555-of-may-6-1959

## Summary
**Law No. 3555 of May 6, 1959** is a Brazilian federal statute that officially designates Aureliano Cândido Tavares Bastos as the patron of Brazilian municipalities. Enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek and published in Rio de Janeiro, the law serves as a formal recognition within the Brazilian legal framework and applies nationally to all municipalities in Brazil. Its primary function is symbolic and honorific, establishing a cultural and historical figure as a representative entity for local governance.

## Key Facts
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 3555, de 6 de maio de 1959 (Law No. 3555 of May 6, 1959).
- **Short Citation:** Lei nº 3555/1959.
- **Classification:** An instance of a **statute**, which is a formal written document that creates law.
- **Enactment Date:** Promulgated and published on May 6, 1959.
- **Approving Authority:** Promulgated by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**, specifically under President **Juscelino Kubitschek**.
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (which was the federal capital at that time).
- **Subject Matter:** The law establishes **Aureliano Cândido Tavares Bastos** as the patron ("Patrono") of Brazilian municipalities.
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies to the entire country of **Brazil** and specifically concerns the subject of "municipality of Brazil."
- **Language:** Written in **Brazilian Portuguese**.
- **Legal Identifier:** LexML Brazil ID is `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-05-06;3555`.
- **Law Digest:** "CONSIDERA AURELIANO CANDIDO TAVARES BASTOS PATRONO DOS MUNICIPIOS BRASILEIROS."
- **Official Source:** The full text is available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3555.htm`.
- **Context:** Enacted during a period when Brazil was a federal republic with Rio de Janeiro as its capital (prior to the move to Brasília in April 1960).

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 3555?**
The law serves an honorific purpose, officially naming Aureliano Cândido Tavares Bastos as the patron of all Brazilian municipalities. This designation recognizes his historical or cultural significance to local governance and municipal administration in Brazil.

**Who approved and enacted this law?**
The law was approved and promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil on May 6, 1959. The specific president in office at the time of promulgation was Juscelino Kubitschek.

**To which jurisdictions and entities does this law apply?**
The law applies to the entire nation of Brazil and explicitly targets the subject of "municipality of Brazil." It is a federal statute, meaning it holds legal weight across all states and localities within the country.

**Where can the official text of the law be found?**
The official work is available online via the Planalto Palace website at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3555.htm`. It is also indexed in the LexML Brazil system with the URN `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-05-06;3555`.

## Why It Matters
This statute matters as a formal piece of Brazilian legal and cultural heritage. By designating a specific historical figure, Aureliano Cândido Tavares Bastos, as the patron of Brazilian municipalities, the law embeds a symbolic figurehead into the administrative identity of every local government in the country. This act serves to unify the diverse municipalities under a shared recognition and highlights the importance of municipal autonomy and history within the broader framework of the Brazilian state. Furthermore, its enactment in 1959 places it at the end of a significant developmental era in Brazil (the Kubitschek presidency), just prior to the capital's transfer to Brasília, serving as a historical marker of that legislative period.

## Notable For
- **Cultural Designation:** Specifically establishes a patron saint or figurehead for an entire class of government entities (municipalities), a unique function for a federal statute.
- **Historical Timing:** Enacted on May 6, 1959, less than a year before the inauguration of Brasília (April 21, 1960), making it one of the later laws published from Rio de Janeiro as the federal capital.
- **Specific Honorific Scope:** Unlike laws that regulate daily civil or criminal affairs, this statute is narrowly focused on conferring an honorific title and recognition.
- **National Scope:** Applies uniformly to all municipalities within the vast and diverse territory of Brazil, from major urban centers to remote local districts.

## Body

### Legislative Classification and Definition
Law No. 3555 of May 6, 1959, is formally classified as a **statute**. In legal terminology, a statute is a formal written document that creates law. It serves as a concrete manifestation of statutory law and is distinct from general legal concepts. As a statute, this law is considered a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." It functions as a specific legal instrument enacted through the legislative process, creating a legal norm that is part of the broader body of law.

### Historical and Political Context
The law was promulgated on **May 6, 1959**, a time of significant progress and modernization in Brazil. It was approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil** under the leadership of President **Juscelino Kubitschek**, a key figure in Brazilian history known for his "50 years in 5" development program and the construction of Brasília. The law was published in **Rio de Janeiro**, which served as the capital of Brazil until April 1960. This temporal context places the law's origin in the final months of Rio de Janeiro's tenure as the seat of federal power.

### Substance and Intent
The core substance of the law is captured in its digest: "CONSIDERA AURELIANO CANDIDO TAVARES BASTOS PATRONO DOS MUNICIPIOS BRASILEIROS" (Considers Aureliano Cândido Tavares Bastos Patron of Brazilian Municipalities). The law's primary function is to officially designate **Aureliano Cândido Tavares Bastos** as the symbolic patron for all Brazilian municipalities.

The subjects directly referenced in the law are:
- **Municipality of Brazil** (stated as "Municipios")
- **Brazil** (stated as "Brasil")

This creates a direct legal link between the honored individual and the administrative divisions he is meant to represent.

### Jurisdiction, Application, and Language
The statute operates under the jurisdiction of **Brazil** and applies nationally. Its scope is specific to the subject of the "municipality of Brazil," indicating that its effects and recognition are pertinent to local-level governance across the entire country. The language of the work is **Brazilian Portuguese**, consistent with all federal legislation in the country. The legal citation for the text is **Lei nº 3555/1959**.

### Official Identifiers and Accessibility
The law is cataloged and accessible through several official identifiers and platforms:
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-05-06;3555`
- **Planalto Archive:** Available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3555.htm` (referenced by the Presidency's legislative portal).
- **Presidency Portal:** Further referenced at `https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3555&ano=1959&data=06/05/1959&ato=824gXRU5UMRRVT37c`.

These sources, referenced with access dates in 2021, ensure the statute is digitally preserved and publicly accessible.

### Geopolitical Context: Brazil
As the law's jurisdiction is Brazil, understanding the entity provides context. Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth-largest in the world by area, a federal republic with Portuguese as its official language. In 1959, Brazil was undergoing rapid industrialization under Kubitschek's administration. The country is comprised of 26 states plus one Federal District, and contains thousands of municipalities which are the focus of this statute. The law operates within this vast, diverse geopolitical framework, connecting a national honor to local administrative units.

### Legal Concept: Statute
The law is an instance of the broader concept of a "statute." Statutes are formal, written documents that create law and are considered public domain in many jurisdictions like the United States and France (edict of government doctrine). While not explicitly stated in the source as public domain, as a Brazilian legal edict, it follows the principle of being a formal, accessible government record. This statute, like others, acts as a definitive reference point for the legal norm it establishes.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-05-06;3555)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3555&ano=1959&data=06/05/1959&ato=824gXRU5UMRRVT37c)
3. LexML Brasil