# Law No. 3612 of August 11, 1959 > Brazilian law **Wikidata**: [Q105648634](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648634) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3612-of-august-11-1959 ## Summary Law No. 3612 of August 11, 1959, is a Brazilian statute enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, focusing on special budgetary adjustments within the Ministry of Finance of Brazil. This formal written document represents a specific legal instrument that modifies financial allocations, serving as a concrete manifestation of statutory law in Brazil's federal legal system. ## Key Facts - **Title:** Lei nº 3612, de 11 de agosto de 1959 - **Type:** Brazilian statute (formal written document creating law) - **Enactment Date:** August 11, 1959 - **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil (President Juscelino Kubitschek) - **Jurisdiction:** Applies to Brazil - **Main Subject:** Special budgetary adjustment (Credito Especial) for the Ministry of Finance of Brazil (Ministerio Da Fazenda) - **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese - **Publication Location:** Rio de Janeiro (then capital of Brazil) - **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3612/1959 - **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-08-11;3612 - **Official Text Available At:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3612.htm - **WikiProject:** WikiProject Brazilian Laws - **Classification:** Instance of "statute" (subclass of written work, document, and rule) - **Copyright Status:** Public domain in Brazil (official government legislation) ## FAQs **What is the purpose of Law No. 3612 of August 11, 1959?** Law No. 3612 of August 11, 1959, serves as a special budgetary adjustment measure for Brazil's Ministry of Finance. It represents a formal legal instrument that modifies financial allocations within the federal government, specifically addressing budgetary needs through what is termed "Credito Especial" (special credit) in Brazilian legal terminology. **Who approved this law and when?** The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil on August 11, 1959, during the administration of President Juscelino Kubitschek. It was promulgated through the standard legislative process and published in Rio de Janeiro, which was Brazil's capital at the time. **What specific government entity does this law affect?** The primary subject of Law No. 3612 is the Ministry of Finance of Brazil (Ministério da Fazenda). The legislation specifically addresses budgetary adjustments within this ministry, providing legal authorization for special financial allocations. **Where can the official text of this law be found?** The complete official text of Law No. 3612 is available through multiple Brazilian government sources. The primary digital location is the Brazilian Presidency's legislation portal at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3612.htm. It is also accessible through the LexML Brazil legal information system under the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-08-11;3612. **Is this law still in effect today?** The current status of Law No. 3612 is not explicitly stated in the provided source material. However, as a specific budgetary adjustment measure from 1959, it likely served its immediate purpose at the time of enactment. Brazilian laws can be amended or repealed by subsequent legislation, and budgetary measures often have limited temporal applicability. **How does this law fit into Brazil's legal system?** Law No. 3612 represents a specific instance of a "statute" within Brazil's legal framework. As a formal written document creating law, it falls under the broader category of statutory law and serves as a concrete manifestation of legislative authority. The law demonstrates how Brazil's federal government exercises budgetary control through formal legal instruments. ## Why It Matters Law No. 3612 of August 11, 1959, matters as a specific example of how Brazil's federal government manages financial allocations through formal legislative processes. This statute represents the concrete exercise of governmental authority in budgetary matters, demonstrating the intersection between political leadership and fiscal management during President Juscelino Kubitschek's administration. The law is significant for several reasons. First, it illustrates the legal mechanisms through which Brazil's Ministry of Finance can obtain special budgetary adjustments, which are crucial for effective financial governance. Second, it serves as a historical document reflecting the economic priorities and fiscal management approaches of Brazil in the late 1950s, a period marked by significant industrialization and infrastructure development under Kubitschek's leadership. As a formal statute, Law No. 3612 also demonstrates the transparency and documentation requirements of Brazil's legal system. The fact that this 65-year-old legislation remains accessible through official government portals underscores Brazil's commitment to maintaining public records of its legal history. This accessibility allows researchers, legal professionals, and citizens to examine the evolution of Brazil's fiscal policies and legislative practices over time. Moreover, this law contributes to the broader understanding of how budgetary laws function within federal systems. By examining specific statutes like Law No. 3612, scholars can analyze patterns in financial governance, compare different administrations' approaches to fiscal management, and assess the long-term impacts of such legislative measures on Brazil's economic development. ## Notable For - **Specific Budgetary Measure:** Represents a concrete example of special budgetary adjustment (Credito Especial) in Brazilian fiscal law - **Kubitschek Administration Legacy:** Enacted during President Juscelino Kubitschek's term, known for ambitious infrastructure projects - **Ministry of Finance Focus:** Directly addresses financial allocations within Brazil's central financial authority - **Historical Legal Document:** Serves as a primary source for studying Brazil's fiscal policies in the late 1950s - **Public Domain Status:** As official government legislation, it is freely accessible without copyright restrictions - **Digital Preservation:** Maintained in multiple official Brazilian legal databases and government portals - **WikiProject Inclusion:** Recognized as part of WikiProject Brazilian Laws, indicating its significance in legal documentation ## Body ### Legislative Context and Enactment Law No. 3612 of August 11, 1959, was enacted during a significant period in Brazil's political and economic history. The legislation was approved by President Juscelino Kubitschek, who served as Brazil's 21st president from January 31, 1956, to January 31, 1961. Kubitschek's administration is particularly noted for its ambitious development programs, including the construction of Brasília as Brazil's new capital and significant investments in infrastructure and industry. The law was promulgated on August 11, 1959, and published in Rio de Janeiro, which served as Brazil's capital until the official inauguration of Brasília on April 21, 1960. This timing places the legislation within the final years of Rio de Janeiro's status as the national capital and during the transitional period when government functions were being relocated to the newly constructed city in the central-west region of Brazil. ### Legal Classification and Structure Law No. 3612 represents a specific type of legal instrument within Brazil's legislative framework. As a statute, it falls under the broader category of formal written documents that create law. This classification aligns with global legal definitions of statutes as concrete manifestations of statutory law, distinct from broader concepts of legislation or legal acts. The law is specifically categorized as addressing "Credito Especial" (special credit), which in Brazilian legal terminology refers to special budgetary adjustments. These adjustments allow for modifications to financial allocations beyond the regular budgetary process, providing flexibility for urgent or unforeseen financial needs within government operations. ### Subject Matter and Scope The primary focus of Law No. 3612 is the Ministry of Finance of Brazil (Ministério da Fazenda). This ministry serves as the central financial authority of the Brazilian federal government, responsible for economic policy, fiscal management, and financial regulation. The law's specific provisions relate to budgetary adjustments within this ministry, authorizing special financial allocations that fall outside the regular budgetary cycle. The exact nature of the budgetary adjustments is not detailed in the provided source material. However, such special credit measures typically address specific financial needs that arise during the fiscal year, allowing the government to respond to economic challenges or fund priority initiatives without waiting for the next regular budget cycle. ### Publication and Accessibility Law No. 3612 demonstrates Brazil's commitment to transparency in legislative processes. The official text of the law is available through multiple government sources, ensuring public access to legislative information. The primary digital repository is the Brazilian Presidency's legislation portal, which maintains historical records of all federal laws. The law is also accessible through the LexML Brazil system, a comprehensive legal information platform that provides standardized access to Brazilian legislation. This dual availability through both executive branch portals and specialized legal databases ensures that the law remains accessible to legal professionals, researchers, and the general public. ### Historical and Political Context The enactment of Law No. 3612 occurred during a period of significant economic development in Brazil. President Kubitschek's administration implemented the "Plano de Metas" (Targets Plan), an ambitious program that aimed to achieve 50 years of progress in just 5 years. This plan focused on industrialization, infrastructure development, and the construction of Brasília. The budgetary adjustments authorized by Law No. 3612 likely supported these broader economic initiatives. Special credit measures such as this one provided the financial flexibility needed to implement the government's development agenda, particularly in areas requiring immediate funding that could not wait for the regular budgetary process. ### Legal Documentation and References The law is formally cited as "Lei nº 3612/1959" in Brazilian legal references. This citation format follows the standard Brazilian legal convention of identifying laws by their number and year of enactment. The law carries the LexML Brazil identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-08-11;3612, which serves as a unique digital identifier within Brazil's legal information system. The legislation is recognized within WikiProject Brazilian Laws, indicating its inclusion in organized efforts to document and categorize Brazil's legal history. This recognition underscores the law's significance as part of Brazil's broader legislative framework and its value as a historical document for understanding the country's fiscal management practices. ### Relationship to Brazil's Legal System Law No. 3612 exemplifies how Brazil's federal legal system operates in practice. As a specific statute, it demonstrates the legislative process through which financial adjustments are formally authorized. The law's existence and documentation reflect the structured approach to fiscal governance in Brazil, where even budgetary adjustments require formal legislative approval. The law also illustrates the hierarchical nature of Brazil's legal system, where federal laws apply nationwide and take precedence over state and local regulations in matters of national concern. As a federal statute, Law No. 3612 applies to the entire jurisdiction of Brazil, affecting the operations of the Ministry of Finance at the national level. ### Preservation and Digital Access The continued availability of Law No. 3612 through official government portals demonstrates Brazil's commitment to preserving its legal history. The fact that a 1959 law remains accessible in digital format reflects the country's efforts to maintain comprehensive records of its legislative development. This digital preservation allows for historical research, legal analysis, and public scrutiny of government actions. Researchers can examine how budgetary practices have evolved over time, while legal professionals can trace the development of fiscal legislation. The public availability of such documents also supports transparency and accountability in government operations. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-08-11;3612) 2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3612&ano=1959&data=11/08/1959&ato=36fITSq5UMRRVT93e)