# Law No. 3653 of November 4, 1959

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648594](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648594)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3653-of-november-4-1959

## Summary
**Law No. 3653 of November 4, 1959** (Lei nº 3653, de 4 de novembro de 1959) is a Brazilian federal statute enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek. It amends Article 221 of the Brazilian Code of Criminal Procedure (Decreto-Lei 3.689, dated October 3, 1941). The law was published on November 4, 1959, from Rio de Janeiro, which was the federal capital at the time, and applies to all jurisdictions within Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 3653, de 4 de novembro de 1959.
- **Type of Entity:** Statute (formal written document that creates law).
- **Date of Publication/Promulgation:** November 4, 1959.
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil (Promulgation by President Juscelino Kubitschek).
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Primary Function:** Amends Article 221 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Decreto-Lei 3.689 de 3 de outubro de 1941).
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3653/1959.
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro (Brazilian federal capital until 1960).
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-11-04;3653`.
- **Official URL:** `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3653.htm`.

## FAQs
**What is the purpose of Law No. 3653 of 1959?**
This law serves as a legislative amendment, specifically altering the text of Article 221 within the Brazilian Code of Criminal Procedure (Decree-Law 3.689 of 1941). It functions as a statutory modification to the existing criminal procedure rules.

**Who enacted Law No. 3653 and when did it take effect?**
The law was enacted by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President Juscelino Kubitschek. It was officially promulgated and published on November 4, 1959.

**Where can the official text of Law No. 3653 be accessed?**
The official text is available in Brazilian Portuguese on the Brazilian government's legislative portal at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3653.htm`.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3653 of 1959 matters as a specific instrument of statutory law in Brazil's legal history. It represents the exercise of legislative power by the federal government to refine and update the Code of Criminal Procedure, a foundational document for the Brazilian legal system. By amending Article 221, this law demonstrates the ongoing evolution of criminal procedure norms in Brazil during the mid-20th century. As a statute, it serves as a formal manifestation of legal rules, ensuring that the code governing criminal proceedings remains current. Its promulgation by President Juscelino Kubitschek places it within a significant period of Brazilian political and infrastructural development.

## Notable For
- **Amendment to Core Legal Code:** Specifically modifies the Code of Criminal Procedure (Decreto-Lei 3.689), a central pillar of Brazilian law.
- **Enacted by President Juscelino Kubitschek:** Signed into law by one of Brazil's most historically significant presidents, known for his "50 years in 5" development platform.
- **Rio de Janeiro Publication:** Published from Rio de Janeiro, serving as a legal artifact from the period before the capital moved to Brasília in April 1960.
- **Statutory Authority:** Exemplifies the function of a statute as a formal written document used to create or modify law.

## Body

### Legislative Classification and Definition
Law No. 3653 of November 4, 1959, is classified as a **statute** (statute). In legal taxonomy, a statute is a formal written document that creates law, acting as a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." It is a manifestation of statutory law and is composed of legal norms. Its creation follows the drafting of laws and is caused by legislation or a legal act.

### Enactment and Promulgation
The statute was formally approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The promulgation took place on November 4, 1959, with **Juscelino Kubitschek** serving as the President. The determination method was promulgation, signifying the formal proclamation of the law. The date of November 4, 1959, serves as both the publication date and the point in time for the approving authority.

### Content and Legal Scope
The primary legal digest of the law states: "ALTERA O ARTIGO 221 DO CODIGO DE PROCESSO PENAL (DECRETO-LEI 3.689 DE 3 DE OUTUBRO DE 1941)." (Alters Article 221 of the Code of Criminal Procedure). The **main subject** of the law is "change" (alteration), indicating its specific role in modifying an existing legal text rather than creating a standalone code. It applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil** and is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**.

### Geopolitical Context
The **place of publication** is listed as **Rio de Janeiro**. At the time of promulgation in late 1959, Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Brazil. The capital was subsequently transferred to Brasília on April 22, 1960, making this law one of the final statutes published from the old capital during the Kubitschek administration.

### Identification and References
The law is indexed with the **Lexml Brazil ID**: `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-11-04;3653`. Its official legal citation is **Lei nº 3653/1959**. The text is preserved and made publicly accessible via the **Planalto Palace** website (Official Gazette of the Union) at the URL: `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3653.htm`. It is included in the **WikiProject Brazilian Laws** focus list for Wikimedia projects.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-11-04;3653)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3653&ano=1959&data=04/11/1959&ato=563QTQ65UMRRVT952)
3. LexML Brasil