# Law No. 3720 of December 24, 1959

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648636](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648636)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3720-of-december-24-1959

## Summary
**Law No. 3720 of December 24, 1959** is a Brazilian statute enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek. Officially titled *Lei nº 3720, de 24 de dezembro de 1959*, it serves as a formal legal instrument authorizing a special budgetary adjustment (*Crédito Especial*) specifically designated for the Federal District. As a statute, it constitutes a formal written document that creates statutory law within the Federative Republic of Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3720, de 24 de dezembro de 1959
- **Entity Type:** Statute (Formal written document / Legal Act)
- **Date of Promulgation:** December 24, 1959
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Signed By:** Juscelino Kubitschek (President)
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **Primary Subject:** Special budgetary adjustment (*Credito Especial*)
- **Beneficiary/Target:** Federal District (*Distrito Federal*)
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3720/1959
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-12-24;3720`
- **Official URL:** Available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3720.htm`
- **Wikimedia Project:** Listed on WikiProject Brazilian Laws

## FAQs
**What is the specific function of Law No. 3720?**
The law functions as a "special budgetary adjustment" (Crédito Especial). In legal and administrative terms, this type of statute authorizes the allocation of specific funds outside the standard annual budget to meet urgent or unforeseen needs, in this case specifically for the Federal District.

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

**Where was the law published and what language is it in?**
The law was published in Rio de Janeiro, which was the federal capital of Brazil at the time (prior to the inauguration of Brasília in 1960). The text is written in Brazilian Portuguese.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3720 of December 24, 1959, represents a concrete example of statutory law in action within the Brazilian legal system. As a *statute*, it serves as a "manifestation of statutory law," providing the formal, written evidence of a government rule that governs society. Specifically, it illustrates the fiscal mechanisms used by the Brazilian government in the late 1950s to manage public finances through "special credits."

Historically, this law is significant for its timing and location. Enacted on Christmas Eve 1959, just months before the federal capital moved from Rio de Janeiro to Brasília, it pertains to the "Federal District." In the context of 1959, the Federal District referred to the city of Rio de Janeiro, indicating a specific budgetary focus on the then-capital during a period of intense national development and transition under the Kubitschek administration. As a legal document, it falls under the broad classification of public domain government edicts, ensuring public accessibility to the legislative actions of the state.

## Notable For
- **Classification as a Statute:** Represents a formal written document that creates law, acting as a subclass of "written work" and "rule."
- **Historical Context:** Enacted in 1959, during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, a pivotal era in Brazilian modernization.
- **Specific Fiscal Mechanism:** Notable for its specific focus on a "special budgetary adjustment" (Crédito Especial), a distinct type of financial authorization.
- **Pre-Brasília Capital Connection:** Published in and applicable to the Federal District (Rio de Janeiro) prior to the 1960 inauguration of the new capital.
- **Public Accessibility:** Fully available via the official Planalto Palace website and identified by the standard LexML Brazil ID for legislative tracking.

## Body

### Legal Classification and Definition
Law No. 3720 is formally classified as a **statute**. In the context of legal ontology, a statute is a formal written document that creates law, encompassing acts, executive orders, and by-laws. It is distinct from abstract legal theories, serving as the tangible manifestation of statutory law. This law follows the legislative process (preceded by draft laws) and acts as a legal norm applicable to its jurisdiction. As a legal document, it is generally considered public domain under the "edict of government doctrine," ensuring that citizens have unrestrained access to the laws they must follow.

### Historical and Political Context
The statute was promulgated on **December 24, 1959**, a date placing it firmly within the "Years of Gold" of the Juscelino Kubitschek administration. It was approved via promulgation by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. This period was characterized by rapid industrialization and infrastructure development. The law's enactment in late December 1959 places it at the very end of the decade and just prior to a major shift in Brazilian geography—the transfer of the federal capital from Rio de Janeiro to Brasília (which occurred in April 1960).

### Subject Matter and Jurisdiction
The law addresses a specific financial administrative need: a **special budgetary adjustment** (cited in the text as *Credito Especial*). Unlike general budget laws, a special credit is typically used to cover expenses that could not be foreseen or were insufficiently funded in the annual budget law.

The primary subject of this funding is the **Federal District** (*Distrito Federal*). In 1959, the "Federal District" legally referred to the city of **Rio de Janeiro**, which served as the national capital. Consequently, this law was enacted to manage financial resources specifically for Rio de Janeiro before it transitioned to the status of State of Guanabara (and later Rio de Janeiro state) following the move to Brasília.

### Identification and Access
The law is extensively cataloged within Brazilian and international legal indexing systems:
- **Legal Citation:** *Lei nº 3720/1959*.
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** The unique Uniform Resource Name (URN) for this legislation is `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-12-24;3720`.
- **Digital Access:** The full text of the law is available for public consultation on the official website of the Planalto Palace at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3720.htm`.
- **Language:** The document is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**, the official language of Brazil.
- **Place of Publication:** The official publication occurred in **Rio de Janeiro**, the seat of the federal government at the time.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1959-12-24;3720)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3720&ano=1959&data=24/12/1959&ato=ccfkXUE9UMRRVTc05)