# Law No. 3639 of October 6, 1959

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648580](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648580)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3639-of-october-6-1959

## Summary
Law No. 3639 of October 6, 1959, is a Brazilian federal statute enacted to authorize "Supplementary Credit" (Credito Suplementar). This formal written document was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President Juscelino Kubitschek and published in Rio de Janeiro. It serves as a specific legal instrument within the Brazilian legislative framework, classified as a statute that creates binding legal norms for the nation.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3639, de 6 de outubro de 1959.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3639/1959.
- **Publication Date:** October 6, 1959.
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- **Country of Origin:** Brazil (Federative Republic of Brazil).
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Approving Authority (Qualifier):** Juscelino Kubitschek (President at the time of promulgation).
- **Main Subject:** Supplementary Credit (Credito Suplementar).
- **Related Legislative Body:** Chamber of Deputies (Camara Dos Deputados).
- **Instance Of:** Statute (a formal written document that creates law).
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-10-06;3639.
- **Official Online Source:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3639.htm.
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies to the entire territory of Brazil.
- **Legal Classification:** Federal law enacted via legislation.

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 3639?**
The law was specifically enacted to authorize "Supplementary Credit," a financial mechanism allowing the government to allocate additional funds beyond the original budget estimates. This legal instrument addresses the need for extra fiscal resources to meet unforeseen or urgent public expenditures.

**Who was responsible for approving this legislation?**
The statute was approved and promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. At the time of its enactment on October 6, 1959, the acting head of state was President Juscelino Kubitschek.

**Where can the full text of this law be accessed?**
The official text is available online through the Brazilian government's Planalto portal at the specific URL for laws between 1950 and 1969. It is also indexed in the LexML Brazil system, which provides a standardized digital identifier for the document.

**What legislative body is associated with the creation of this law?**
The Chamber of Deputies (Camara Dos Deputados) is the legislative body explicitly linked to this statute in its metadata. As a federal law, it follows the standard Brazilian legislative process involving both the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate before presidential approval.

**Is this law still in effect or relevant today?**
As a federal statute published in 1959, it remains part of the historical legal record of Brazil and is cited in legal databases. Its specific provisions regarding supplementary credit for that fiscal year have likely been superseded by subsequent budgets, but the document serves as a permanent record of the legislative act.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3639 of October 6, 1959, is a critical component of Brazil's fiscal and administrative history, representing the formal legal mechanism used to manage public finances during the Kubitschek administration. It matters because it exemplifies the "Supplementary Credit" process, a vital tool in Brazilian public administration that allows the executive branch to adjust the budget to meet changing economic realities or urgent national needs without waiting for a full new budget cycle. By legally authorizing these additional funds, the statute ensures that government operations can continue smoothly even when original allocations are insufficient. Furthermore, as a federal statute, it reinforces the rule of law by ensuring that all financial expenditures are grounded in a formal, written legal document rather than arbitrary executive action. Its preservation in digital archives like LexML and Planalto ensures transparency and accessibility for legal scholars, historians, and citizens analyzing the evolution of Brazil's public finance laws.

## Notable For
- **Specific Fiscal Function:** It is uniquely identified as the legal instrument for "Supplementary Credit" (Credito Suplementar) for the year 1959.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, a period known for significant industrialization and infrastructure development in Brazil.
- **Digital Preservation:** It holds a permanent, standardized identifier (urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-10-06;3639) within the LexML Brazil ecosystem, ensuring long-term digital accessibility.
- **Legislative Classification:** It stands as a definitive example of a "statute" in the Brazilian legal taxonomy, distinct from decrees or provisional measures.
- **Geographic Specificity:** The law was officially published in Rio de Janeiro, which served as the federal capital at the time, prior to the move to Brasília in 1960.
- **Bilingual Metadata:** While the text is in Brazilian Portuguese, its structured data includes English descriptions and classifications for international knowledge graphs.

## Body

### Definition and Legal Classification
Law No. 3639 of October 6, 1959, is formally classified as a **statute**. In the context of Brazilian and international legal taxonomy, a statute is a formal written document that creates law. This specific entity falls under the broader category of "written work" and "document," functioning as the concrete manifestation of statutory law. It is an instance of a legal term or concept that serves as a rule enacted by a government authority. Unlike abstract legal theories, this statute is the tangible record of the legal norm regarding supplementary credit. It is distinct from general concepts of "legislation" or "legal act" in that it represents the final, promulgated document rather than the process itself.

### Legislative History and Promulgation
The statute was created through the standard legislative process of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The creation of the law was preceded by "draft laws" and was caused by the act of "legislation." The document was officially approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. A key qualifier of this approval is the involvement of **Juscelino Kubitschek**, who was the President of Brazil at the time. The specific date of promulgation and publication was **October 6, 1959**. The place of publication was **Rio de Janeiro**, which was the capital of Brazil at that time, preceding the inauguration of Brasília in 1960. The law was published in the official gazette, establishing its validity and enforceability across the national territory.

### Subject Matter and Scope
The primary subject matter of this statute is **Supplementary Credit** (Credito Suplementar). This legal concept allows the government to open additional credits to the budget to cover expenses that were not foreseen in the original budget law or to cover deficits in existing allocations. The law explicitly links this subject to the **Chamber of Deputies** (Camara Dos Deputados), indicating the legislative body's role in the approval or oversight of these financial measures. The statute applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil**, meaning its legal force extends to the entire Federative Republic. It is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**, the official language of the country, ensuring that the legal text is accessible to the domestic population and legal professionals.

### Digital Identity and Authority Control
In the modern digital era, Law No. 3639 is identified by several unique and persistent identifiers that facilitate its retrieval and citation in knowledge graphs and legal databases.
- **LexML Brazil ID:** The law is assigned the Uniform Resource Name (URN) `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-10-06;3639`. This standardized identifier allows for precise referencing across different legal information systems in Brazil.
- **Official Web Presence:** The full text is hosted on the official Planalto website at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3639.htm`. This URL serves as the primary digital access point for the public and researchers.
- **Wikidata Integration:** The entity is described in Wikidata as a "Brazilian law" and is linked to the broader concept of a statute. It is associated with the property `P1001` (applies to jurisdiction) pointing to Brazil.
- **Citation Format:** The standard legal citation for this text is **Lei nº 3639/1959**. This format is used in legal documents, court rulings, and academic papers to reference the specific law.

### Relationship to Broader Legal Concepts
This statute is an integral part of the Brazilian legal system's structure. It is an instance of the class **statute**, which encompasses acts, executive orders, and by-laws. As a federal law, it is superior to state or municipal laws but subordinate to the Constitution of Brazil. The law's existence demonstrates the "edict of government doctrine" principles, where official legal documents are generally considered public domain, ensuring that the rules governing the public are freely accessible. The statute is composed of "legal norms" and is a "part of" the broader concepts of "law" and "legal act." Its creation follows the procedural requirements of the Brazilian National Congress, involving the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate, before final approval by the Executive branch.

### Contextual Significance in 1959
Enacted in 1959, this law reflects the administrative and fiscal realities of Brazil during the late 1950s. This period was characterized by the ambitious development plans of the Kubitschek administration, which included the construction of Brasília and rapid industrialization. The need for "Supplementary Credit" suggests that the government required flexible financial mechanisms to support these large-scale projects and unforeseen economic demands. The law serves as a historical artifact of how the Brazilian state managed its budget and responded to fiscal challenges during a transformative era in its national history. It highlights the interplay between the legislative and executive branches in managing public resources.

### Technical Metadata and References
The data surrounding this law is sourced from authoritative repositories. The publication date and approval details are referenced from the Presidency of the Republic's legislative portal (`https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos`). The LexML Brazil system provides the structural metadata, including the URN and the classification as a federal law. These references ensure the authenticity and verifiability of the information. The law is cataloged under the category "Act" in knowledge systems, linking it to other legislative instruments. Its structured data includes properties such as `P17` (country), `P1001` (applies to jurisdiction), and `P953` (work available at URL), making it machine-readable and interoperable with other legal knowledge bases.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-10-06;3639)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3639&ano=1959&data=06/10/1959&ato=085UzYq5UMRRVT26e)