# Law No. 3692 of December 15, 1959

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648812](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648812)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3692-of-december-15-1959

## Summary
Law No. 3692 of December 15, 1959, is a Brazilian federal statute that established the Superintendency for the Development of the Northeast (SUDENE) to address regional economic disparities. Approved by President Juscelino Kubitschek, the law provides the legal framework for administrative organization, financial incentives, and tax exemptions to foster development in the northeastern states of Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3692, de 15 de dezembro de 1959 (Law No. 3692 of December 15, 1959).
- **Epigraph:** "INSTITUI A SUPERINTENDENCIA DO DESENVOLVIMENTO DO NORDESTE E DA OUTRAS PROVIDENCIAS" (Institutes the Superintendency for the Development of the Northeast and provides other measures).
- **Date of Approval/Promulgation:** December 15, 1959.
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Approving President:** Juscelino Kubitschek.
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (Federal).
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Classification:** Instance of a statute (formal written document that creates law).
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3692/1959.
- **LexML ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-12-15;3692.
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3692.htm.
- **WikiProject:** WikiProject Brazilian Laws.
- **Applicable States:** Includes Bahia, Ceará, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Piauí, Maranhão, Pernambuco, Sergipe, Alagoas, and Minas Gerais.
- **Key Subjects:** Development, funding, tax exemption, income tax, import, industrial sector, administrative organization, and special budgetary adjustments.

## FAQs
**What is the primary objective of Law No. 3692/1959?**
The primary objective is to institute the Superintendency for the Development of the Northeast, a federal body designed to plan and execute economic development strategies for the region. It establishes the legal and administrative mechanisms necessary to combat regional inequality.

**Which Brazilian states are covered by this law?**
The law specifically addresses the northeastern states of Bahia, Ceará, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Piauí, Maranhão, Pernambuco, Sergipe, and Alagoas. It also includes provisions related to the state of Minas Gerais.

**What financial incentives does the statute provide?**
It provides mechanisms for funding, special budgetary adjustments, and tax exemptions. Specific financial measures include deductions for income tax, exemptions on import duties, and the allocation of resources for equipment and industrial sector growth.

**Who enacted this law and when?**
The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, specifically under the administration of President Juscelino Kubitschek. It was promulgated and published on December 15, 1959, in Rio de Janeiro.

**Where can the official text of the law be accessed?**
The official work is available at the Brazilian government portal (planalto.gov.br). It is also cataloged in the LexML system under the URN urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-12-15;3692.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3692/1959 is a pivotal piece of legislation in Brazilian history because it represents the federal government's formal, structured response to the chronic economic underdevelopment of the Northeast region. By creating the Superintendency for the Development of the Northeast (SUDENE), the law moved beyond ad-hoc aid to establish a permanent institutional framework dedicated to regional planning and economic integration. The statute matters because it introduced significant fiscal incentives, such as income tax deductions and import exemptions, designed to attract private investment to the industrial sector. It fundamentally altered the role of the state in regional development, granting the federal government specific competencies in funding, planning, and administrative oversight to reduce disparities between the Northeast and the more developed South/Southeast. This legal framework laid the groundwork for decades of developmentalist policy in Brazil.

## Notable For
- **Institutional Creation:** Notable for creating the Superintendency for the Development of the Northeast, a landmark agency in Brazilian regional planning.
- **Comprehensive Regional Scope:** Uniquely addresses a vast geographic area, covering nine northeastern states plus parts of Minas Gerais within a single statutory framework.
- **Fiscal Innovation:** Distinguished by its use of tax exemptions (Isenção) and income tax deductions (Imposto de Renda) as tools for regional economic policy.
- **Developmental Focus:** Focused heavily on the industrial sector (Industria), import facilitation, and equipment acquisition to modernize the regional economy.
- **Administrative Structure:** Defined specific competencies (Competencia), administrative organization (Organização Administrativa), and subordination (Subordinação) rules for the new federal entity.

## Body

### Legal Definition and Classification
Law No. 3692 of December 15, 1959, is classified as a **statute**, defined as a formal written document that creates law. As a manifestation of statutory law, it functions as a "legal norm" and serves as the official record of the rules enacted by the Brazilian government. It is distinct from abstract legal concepts, serving as the tangible "written work" or "document" that establishes the Superintendency for the Development of the Northeast. Like other statutes, it is generally considered in the public domain, ensuring unrestricted access to the legal texts governing the public.

### Legislative History and Approval
The law was enacted during the presidency of **Juscelino Kubitschek**, a period marked by intensive developmentalist policies in Brazil. It was approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil** through the method of promulgation on **December 15, 1959**. At the time of its publication, the federal capital was located in **Rio de Janeiro**, which is cited as the place of publication. The document is officially cited as **Lei nº 3692/1959** and is archived under the LexML identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-12-15;3692`.

### Purpose and Scope
The epigraph of the law explicitly states its purpose: "INSTITUI A SUPERINTENDENCIA DO DESENVOLVIMENTO DO NORDESTE E DA OUTRAS PROVIDENCIAS." The statute focuses on the concept of **development** (Desenvolvimento), aiming to foster economic growth and structural change. It establishes the **Federal Government of Brazil** (União Federal) as the primary actor responsible for this initiative, operating through the newly created administrative body. The law also addresses the **actuation** (Atuação) of the state in the economy and sets specific **goals** (Objetivo) and **criteria** (Criterios) for development projects.

### Regional Applicability
The statute delineates a specific geographic area for its application, primarily focusing on the Northeast region of Brazil. The **main_subject** field of the law explicitly lists the following states:
*   **Bahia** (Estado Da Bahia)
*   **Ceará** (Estado Do Ceara)
*   **Paraíba** (Estado Da Paraiba)
*   **Rio Grande do Norte** (Estado Do Rio Grande Do Norte)
*   **Piauí** (Estado Do Piaui)
*   **Maranhão** (Estado Do Maranhão)
*   **Pernambuco** (Estado De Pernambuco)
*   **Sergipe** (Estado De Sergipe)
*   **Alagoas** (Estado De Alagoas)

Additionally, the law includes **Minas Gerais** (Estado De Minas Gerais) in its scope, recognizing the economic interconnections between these regions. It defines the specific **area** (Area) of operation and emphasizes the **good use** (Aproveitamento) of regional resources.

### Economic and Financial Provisions
A significant portion of the law is dedicated to financial mechanisms and economic incentives. Key provisions include:
*   **Funding and Resources:** The law addresses **financial resources** (Recursos Financeiros) and **funding** (Financiamento) to support development initiatives.
*   **Tax Incentives:** It establishes **tax exemptions** (Isenção) and **reductions** (Redução/Dedução), specifically targeting **income tax** (Imposto De Renda) and general **taxes** (Impostos).
*   **Import and Industry:** To boost the **industrial sector** (Industria), the law facilitates the **import** (Importação) of necessary goods and **equipment** (Equipamentos).
*   **Budgetary Adjustments:** It authorizes **special budgetary adjustments** (Credito Especial) and defines the handling of **expenses** (Despesa) and **fees** (Taxas).
*   **Heritage and Assets:** The law includes provisions regarding **heritage** (Patrimonio), ensuring that state and federal assets are utilized for developmental goals.

### Administrative and Operational Aspects
The law details the administrative structure necessary to execute the development plan. It focuses on **administrative organization** (Organização Administrativa) and the **elaboration** (Elaboração) of projects. It defines the **competency** (Competencia) of the new superintendency and establishes rules of **subordination** (Subordinação) within the federal hierarchy. The statute also mandates the **creation** (Criação) of norms and **legal norms** (Normas) to guide the **consent** (Aprovação) and execution of projects. It emphasizes **obligatoriedade** (obligation) in meeting development targets and sets standards for the **composition** (Composição) of administrative bodies.

### Documentation and Access
As a formal statute, Law No. 3692 is documented in multiple official systems. It is part of the **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, ensuring its categorization and accessibility in knowledge bases. The work is available in **Brazilian Portuguese** and can be accessed via the official URL provided by the Presidency (https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3692.htm). The law is also indexed in the LexML system, which provides a standardized URN for legal citation. Its status as a statute places it within the public domain, aligning with the "edict of government doctrine" which holds that such official legal documents are not subject to copyright.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-12-15;3692)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3692&ano=1959&data=15/12/1959&ato=462EzZ65UMRRVT543)
3. LexML Brasil