# Law No. 3716 of December 24, 1959

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648899](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648899)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3716-of-december-24-1959

## Summary
**Law No. 3716 of December 24, 1959** is a Brazilian federal statute enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek. Officially titled "Lei nº 3716, de 24 de dezembro de 1959," it was published in Rio de Janeiro and addresses a special budgetary adjustment ("Credito Especial") for the Ministry of War. The law is classified as a formal legal document (statute) and is accessible online through the official Planalto government portal.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3716, de 24 de dezembro de 1959
- **Alternative Citation:** Lei nº 3716/1959
- **Entity Type:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Country:** Brazil
- **Date of Approval/Promulgation:** December 24, 1959
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **President at Enactment:** Juscelino Kubitschek
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Main Subject 1:** Ministry of War of Brazil
- **Main Subject 2:** Special budgetary adjustment
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-12-24;3716
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3716.htm
- **Wikidata Description:** Brazilian law
- **WikiProject:** Part of WikiProject Brazilian Laws

## FAQs
**What is Law No. 3716/1959?**
Law No. 3716/1959 is a Brazilian federal statute enacted on December 24, 1959, that authorizes a special budgetary adjustment ("Credito Especial") specifically for the Ministry of War of Brazil.

**Who approved and promulgated this law?**
The law was approved and promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, specifically under President Juscelino Kubitschek, on December 24, 1959.

**Where can the full text of Law No. 3716/1959 be accessed?**
The full text of the law is available online at the official Brazilian government portal, Planalto, at the URL: https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3716.htm.

**What is the legal classification of this document?**
It is classified as a "statute," which is a formal written document that creates law, functioning as the concrete manifestation of statutory law.

**What jurisdiction does this law apply to?**
Law No. 3716/1959 applies to the entire Federative Republic of Brazil, as it is a federal law enacted by the national government.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3716 of December 24, 1959, represents a specific instance of fiscal and military administration in Brazil during a pivotal period in the nation's history. Enacted in the late 1950s under President Juscelino Kubitschek—a leader known for his ambitious development programs and the construction of Brasília—this law provides a concrete example of how the Brazilian government managed its budgetary processes, particularly concerning national defense through the Ministry of War. As a statute, it serves as a primary source for understanding the legal and administrative mechanisms of the era, documenting the formal allocation of special credits for military purposes. Its preservation and accessibility via modern digital platforms like the Planalto portal and Lexml ensure that this piece of legislative history remains available for legal research, historical analysis, and the broader public record, reinforcing the principles of transparent governance.

## Notable For
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, a period marked by rapid modernization and the relocation of Brazil's capital.
- **Specific Focus on Military:** The law's main subject is the Ministry of War of Brazil, highlighting the administrative priorities concerning national defense in 1959.
- **Budgetary Legislation:** It exemplifies the use of "special budgetary adjustments" (Credito Especial), a specific type of financial authorization in Brazilian public administration.
- **Digital Preservation:** The law is fully accessible through official Brazilian government digital archives, ensuring long-term public access.
- **Jurisdictional Authority:** As a federal statute, it has nationwide applicability across all states and territories of Brazil.
- **Official Documentation:** It carries a unique Lexml Brazil ID (urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-12-24;3716), making it part of the country's official legislative information network.
- **Late Capital Era:** Published in Rio de Janeiro, it is one of the final statutes enacted before the federal capital moved to Brasília in April 1960.

## Body

### Official Identification and Classification
Law No. 3716, officially cited as "Lei nº 3716, de 24 de dezembro de 1959," is a federal statute of Brazil. It is classified as an instance of a "statute," which is a formal written document enacted to create law, distinct from broader legal concepts but serving as the manifestation of statutory law. The law is identified by the unique Lexml Brazil ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-12-24;3716`, which serves as a persistent identifier in Brazil's official legislative information network.

### Legislative Origin and Authority
The statute was approved and promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The promulgation took place on December 24, 1959, under the authority of President Juscelino Kubitschek. This period in Brazilian history is notable for the government's focus on rapid industrialization and infrastructure development, with Kubitschek's administration running from 1956 to 1961. The law was published in Rio de Janeiro, which served as the federal capital until the inauguration of Brasília in April 1960.

### Subject Matter and Purpose
The primary subject matter of Law No. 3716 is twofold. Its main subject is the **Ministry of War of Brazil** (referred to in the document as "Ministerio Da Guerra"), the government body responsible for the Brazilian Army at that time. The law specifically addresses a **special budgetary adjustment**, referred to in Portuguese as "Credito Especial." This indicates that the law was enacted to authorize a specific, non-routine allocation of funds to the Ministry of War, outside of the standard annual budget process.

### Geographic and Jurisdictional Scope
The law applies to the entire country of Brazil. As a federal statute, its jurisdiction encompasses all states and territories within the Federative Republic of Brazil. The official language of the document is Brazilian Portuguese.

### Accessibility and Digital Resources
In the modern era, Law No. 3716 has been digitized and made publicly available. The full text of the law can be accessed online via the official website of the Presidency of the Republic at the URL: `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3716.htm`. It is also indexed and available through the Lexml portal, a system designed to organize and provide access to Brazilian legislative documents. This digital presence ensures the law's ongoing accessibility for legal professionals, researchers, and the general public.

### Contextual Significance in Brazilian Law
The enactment of Law No. 3716 in late 1959 places it at the very end of a transformative decade for Brazil. Approved just months before the capital moved from Rio de Janeiro to Brasília, it is one of the last statutes associated with the Rio de Janeiro era of the federal government. Its focus on the Ministry of War also situates it within a specific historical context of military administration, preceding the major political changes that would affect Brazil in the following decades. The law is a component of the broader body of Brazilian statutory law, which is documented to be in the public domain, consistent with the "edict of government doctrine."

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-12-24;3716)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3716&ano=1959&data=24/12/1959&ato=8c5ATTE9UMRRVT298)