# Law No. 3635 of September 22, 1959

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648572](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648572)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3635-of-september-22-1959

## Summary

Law No. 3635 of September 22, 1959 (Lei nº 3635/1959) is a Brazilian statute enacted by President Juscelino Kubitschek that establishes special budgetary credits (crédito especial) for the Ministry of Education (MEC) and grants (subvenções). Published in Rio de Janeiro on September 22, 1959, this law represents a specific legislative act within Brazil's federal legal framework, classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law. The law remains accessible through the official government portal and is part of Brazil's codified legislative history from the Kubitschek administration.

## Key Facts

- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3635, de 22 de setembro de 1959
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3635/1959
- **Publication Date:** September 22, 1959
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- **Promulgating Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **President:** Juscelino Kubitschek (point in time: 1959-09-22)
- **Country of Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Classification:** Statute (instance_of)
- **LEXML Brazil Identifier:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-09-22;3635
- **Main Subjects:** Special budgetary adjustment (Credito Especial), Ministry of Education (MEC), Grant (Subvenção)
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3635.htm
- **Wikidata Description:** Brazilian law

## FAQs

**What type of legal document is Law No. 3635/1959?**

Law No. 3635/1959 is classified as a statute, which is a formal written document that creates law. In the Brazilian legal system, statutes are the written expressions of legislative will, enacted through the proper constitutional procedures. This law falls under the category of "lei" (law) at the federal level, specifically dealing with budgetary matters and educational funding.

**Who promulgated Law No. 3635 of September 22, 1959?**

The law was promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek, who served as President of Brazil from 1956 to 1961. The law was formally approved on September 22, 1959, during Kubitschek's administration, which was known for its focus on economic development and infrastructure projects in Brazil.

**What is the subject matter of Law No. 3635/1959?**

The law addresses three main subjects: special budgetary adjustment (crédito especial), the Ministry of Education (Ministério da Educação - MEC), and grants (subvenções). It specifically authorizes special budget credits for the Ministry of Education, indicating a legislative allocation of funds for educational purposes during that period.

**Where can Law No. 3635/1959 be accessed?**

The full text of the law is available on the official Brazilian government portal at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3635.htm. The law is also catalogued in the LEXML system, the Brazilian legislative database, with the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-09-22;3635.

**What jurisdiction does Law No. 3635/1959 apply to?**

This federal law applies to Brazil as a whole. As a statute enacted at the federal level, it carries binding authority across all Brazilian states and municipalities, though its specific provisions regarding educational funding would primarily affect federal educational agencies and institutions.

## Why It Matters

Law No. 3635 of September 22, 1959 matters as a historical legal document that illustrates Brazil's mid-20th century legislative priorities, particularly in the area of education funding. During the Kubitschek administration, Brazil experienced significant economic growth and modernization, with substantial investments in education and infrastructure. This law represents one specific legislative action within that broader developmental context.

The law demonstrates how the Brazilian federal government utilized statutory mechanisms to direct budgetary resources toward specific sectors—in this case, education. The inclusion of "crédito especial" (special budgetary adjustment) indicates an extraordinary allocation of funds, suggesting either unexpected needs or prioritized investment in the educational sector during that fiscal period.

From a legal-historical perspective, Law No. 3635/1959 contributes to understanding the evolution of Brazilian educational policy and federal budget allocation practices. It serves as part of the larger corpus of Brazilian legislation that established the framework for the country's educational system development.

The law also exemplifies the formal structure of Brazilian statutory law, demonstrating how legislation is codified, cited, and preserved. Its continued availability through official government portals ensures transparency and access to Brazil's legal heritage, allowing researchers, legal professionals, and citizens to examine the historical development of Brazilian law.

## Notable For

- **Historical Significance:** Represents federal legislative action during the Kubitschek administration (1956-1961), a period marked by intense economic development in Brazil
- **Educational Focus:** Specifically addresses funding for the Ministry of Education (MEC), highlighting the government's prioritization of education during this era
- **Budgetary Mechanism:** Utilizes "crédito especial" (special budgetary adjustment), demonstrating the use of extraordinary budget mechanisms for specific governmental purposes
- **Accessibility:** Remains publicly available through official government portals, exemplifying Brazil's commitment to public access to legislative information
- **Legal Classification:** Classified as a statute, part of the formal written legal documents that create law in Brazil
- **LEXML Integration:** Catalogued in LEXML, Brazil's comprehensive legislative database, ensuring long-term preservation and digital accessibility

## Body

### Legislative Context and Enactment

Law No. 3635 of September 22, 1959 was enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, who governed Brazil from 1956 to 1961. This period, known as the "JK" administration, was characterized by ambitious developmental goals, including the construction of Brasília and significant investments in industrial and social infrastructure. The law was formally promulgated on September 22, 1959, in Rio de Janeiro, which served as Brazil's capital until 1960.

The law received its official legal citation as "Lei nº 3635/1959" and was assigned the LEXML identifier "urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-09-22;3635" for cataloguing purposes in Brazil's legislative information system. The LEXML system serves as the primary repository for Brazilian legislative texts, ensuring their preservation and accessibility.

### Subject Matter and Legal Effects

The primary subjects of Law No. 3635/1959 include special budgetary adjustment (crédito especial), the Ministry of Education (Ministério da Educação - MEC), and grants (subvenções). The law authorized special budgetary credits for the Ministry of Education, representing a direct legislative allocation of federal funds to support educational activities and institutions.

The concept of "crédito especial" in Brazilian budgetary law refers to extraordinary credits that can be opened outside the regular budget cycle, typically to address specific needs or priorities identified by the executive branch and approved by the legislature. This mechanism allows for flexibility in government spending while maintaining legislative oversight.

The inclusion of "subvenção" (grants) indicates that the law also provided for financial assistance or subsidies, likely to educational institutions or programs under the Ministry of Education's jurisdiction. This type of financial support was (and remains) a common method for the federal government to promote educational development across Brazil.

### Classification and Legal Framework

In the hierarchy of Brazilian law, Law No. 3635/1959 is classified as a statute (estatuto), representing a formal written document that creates law at the federal level. Statutes in Brazil are created through the legislative process outlined in the Constitution and carry binding legal force across the national territory.

The law is part of the broader category of "lei" (laws) as distinguished from other legal instruments such as decrees, regulations, and administrative acts. Its classification as a statute places it within the formal legal documentation that constitutes Brazil's statutory law, as opposed to case law (jurisprudência) or administrative law (direito administrativo).

### Accessibility and Preservation

Law No. 3635/1959 remains accessible to the public through the official website of the Brazilian federal government (https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3635.htm). This portal provides free access to federal legislation, reflecting Brazil's commitment to transparency and public access to legal information.

The law is also catalogued in LEXML, Brazil's legislative markup language system, which provides structured metadata for Brazilian laws. This digital preservation ensures that the law remains available for legal research, academic study, and public reference. The LEXML identifier allows for precise citation and retrieval of the legal text within Brazil's comprehensive legislative database.

### Relationship to Broader Legal Concepts

Law No. 3635/1959 relates to the broader legal concept of a statute, which is defined as a formal written document that creates law, including acts, executive orders, and by-laws. As a Brazilian federal law, it exemplifies how statutes function as the manifestation of statutory law within Brazil's legal system.

The law also connects to the concept of "legal norm" (norma jurídica), as it establishes specific rules regarding budgetary allocation and funding for education. These legal norms create obligations and authorizations for government agencies, specifically the Ministry of Education, regarding the receipt and use of allocated funds.

### Historical Context of Brazilian Education Law

The enactment of Law No. 3635/1959 occurred during a period of significant expansion in Brazilian public education. The Kubitschek administration recognized education as a priority for national development, and various legislative measures were adopted to expand access to education and improve educational infrastructure. This law represents one specific legislative intervention in that broader policy context.

The Ministry of Education (MEC) has historically played a central role in Brazilian educational policy, and laws allocating funds to this ministry—such as Law No. 3635/1959—contribute to the ongoing development of Brazil's educational system. The law's focus on special budgetary credits and grants reflects the mechanisms available to the federal government to direct resources toward priority areas.

### Jurisdictional Scope

As a federal law, Law No. 3635/1959 applies to all of Brazil, though its specific provisions regarding the Ministry of Education primarily affect federal educational agencies and programs. The law was enacted by the federal government exercising its constitutional authority over budgetary matters and national education policy.

The law's jurisdiction encompasses the entire Brazilian territory, reflecting the federal nature of Brazil's governmental system. Federal laws in Brazil supersede state and municipal laws in cases of conflict, ensuring uniform application of national policy across all states and municipalities.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-09-22;3635)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3635&ano=1959&data=22/09/1959&ato=back3Yq5UMRRVTa99)