# Law No. 3734 of March 8, 1960

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648723](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648723)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3734-of-march-8-1960

## Summary
Law No. 3734 of March 8, 1960 is a Brazilian statute enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, focusing on special budgetary adjustments for the Ministry of Education. It represents a formal legislative act that amended financial allocations within Brazil's federal government, reflecting the country's administrative and fiscal policies during its post-war development period.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3734, de 8 de março de 1960
- **Type:** Brazilian federal statute (lei)
- **Enactment Date:** March 8, 1960
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil (President Juscelino Kubitschek)
- **Main Subject:** Special budgetary adjustment (Credito Especial) for the Ministry of Education (Ministério da Educação)
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies to the entire territory of Brazil
- **Language:** Written in Brazilian Portuguese
- **Publication Location:** Rio de Janeiro (then capital of Brazil)
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3734/1960
- **Source Document:** Available at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3734.htm
- **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1960-03-08;3734
- **Classification:** Instance of "statute" (formal written document creating law)
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during Brazil's democratic period (1946-1964) and the construction of Brasília
- **Government Structure:** Part of Brazil's federal legislative system under the 1946 Constitution
- **Related Entity:** Ministry of Education (Ministério da Educação - MEC)
- **WikiProject:** Included in WikiProject Brazilian Laws

## FAQs

**What is the purpose of Law No. 3734 of March 8, 1960?**
Law No. 3734 of 1960 serves as a special budgetary adjustment measure specifically targeting the Ministry of Education in Brazil. It represents a legislative instrument that modified financial allocations to support educational initiatives during President Juscelino Kubitschek's administration, reflecting the government's priorities in education funding at that time.

**Who approved this law and when was it enacted?**
The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President Juscelino Kubitschek and was officially promulgated on March 8, 1960. This places it within the context of Brazil's democratic period between 1946 and 1964, during which significant infrastructure and educational developments occurred.

**What specific area does this law address?**
The legislation focuses on special budgetary adjustments (referred to as "Credito Especial" in the original text) for Brazil's Ministry of Education. This indicates it dealt with extraordinary or supplemental funding allocations rather than regular budgetary provisions, likely addressing specific educational programs or institutional needs.

**Where can the official text of this law be found?**
The complete text of Law No. 3734/1960 is available through multiple official sources. The primary digital location is the Brazilian government's legislation portal at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3734.htm. It is also referenced in the LexML Brazil legal information system under the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1960-03-08;3734.

**How does this law fit into Brazil's legal system?**
As a federal statute (lei), this legislation represents a formal written document that creates law within Brazil's legal framework. It operates as part of the country's statutory law system, where such acts are created through the legislative process and serve as binding legal norms. The law was enacted under Brazil's 1946 Constitution, which established the federal republic structure that governed the nation until 1967.

**What was the political context when this law was created?**
The law was enacted during a significant period in Brazilian history. President Juscelino Kubitschek (1956-1961) was implementing his "Plano de Metas" (Targets Plan), which aimed to modernize Brazil through industrialization and infrastructure development. This included the construction of Brasília, which became the capital later that same year (April 22, 1960). The educational budget adjustments likely supported the human capital development needed for these ambitious national projects.

## Why It Matters

Law No. 3734 of March 8, 1960 matters as a historical document that illustrates Brazil's commitment to education during a transformative period in its development. Enacted during President Juscelino Kubitschek's administration, this legislation represents the government's recognition of education as a critical component of national progress alongside major infrastructure projects like the construction of Brasília.

The law provides insight into Brazil's budgetary processes and fiscal priorities during the mid-20th century. As a special budgetary adjustment (Credito Especial), it demonstrates how the Brazilian government addressed extraordinary funding needs for education, separate from regular budget allocations. This approach allowed for targeted investments in educational programs that supported the country's broader modernization goals.

From a legal perspective, this statute exemplifies the functioning of Brazil's democratic institutions during the 1946-1964 period. It shows the legislative process in action, where laws were created through proper constitutional channels to address specific national needs. The law's existence in official government archives and legal databases ensures transparency and accountability in public spending.

For researchers and historians, this legislation offers valuable context about Brazil's educational policies during a crucial era. It helps trace the evolution of education funding and the relationship between educational development and economic growth strategies. The law also serves as a primary source for understanding the administrative structure of Brazil's Ministry of Education during this period.

## Notable For

- **Historical Timing:** Enacted during the same year (1960) that Brasília became Brazil's capital, representing the educational component of national modernization efforts
- **Presidential Association:** Directly linked to President Juscelino Kubitschek's administration and his ambitious development programs
- **Special Budgetary Mechanism:** Utilizes the "Credito Especial" (special credit) mechanism for extraordinary educational funding
- **Ministry Focus:** Specifically targets the Ministry of Education, demonstrating prioritization of education in national planning
- **Legal Documentation:** Preserved in multiple official Brazilian legal databases including LexML and the Presidency's legislation portal
- **Democratic Era Legislation:** Represents lawmaking during Brazil's democratic period between the Vargas era and the 1964 military coup
- **Federal Statute Classification:** Serves as an example of Brazilian federal legislation under the 1946 Constitution
- **Educational Policy Insight:** Provides evidence of Brazil's educational funding strategies during its post-war development phase

## Body

### Legislative Context and Creation

Law No. 3734 of March 8, 1960 was created through Brazil's federal legislative process during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek (1956-1961). The law was promulgated on March 8, 1960, in Rio de Janeiro, which served as Brazil's capital until April 22, 1960, when the government officially relocated to the newly constructed city of Brasília.

The legislation represents a formal statutory act within Brazil's legal system. As a "lei" (law), it carries the full force of federal legislation and operates as a binding legal norm. The law was created under the constitutional framework established by Brazil's 1946 Constitution, which governed the country during its democratic period following the Estado Novo dictatorship.

### Budgetary Focus and Educational Impact

The primary purpose of Law No. 3734/1960 was to implement special budgetary adjustments for Brazil's Ministry of Education (Ministério da Educação - MEC). The law specifically deals with what is referred to as "Credito Especial" (special credit), indicating it addressed extraordinary or supplemental funding needs rather than regular budgetary allocations.

This special budgetary mechanism allowed the Brazilian government to make targeted investments in educational programs and initiatives. The timing of this legislation suggests it supported the human capital development necessary for Brazil's broader modernization efforts during the Kubitschek administration, particularly the ambitious infrastructure and industrialization projects outlined in the "Plano de Metas" (Targets Plan).

### Historical and Political Significance

The enactment of this law occurred during a transformative period in Brazilian history. President Juscelino Kubitschek's administration was characterized by rapid economic development and the implementation of major national projects, most notably the construction of Brasília as the new capital city.

The educational budget adjustments reflected in this law can be understood within the context of Brazil's broader development strategy. As the country invested heavily in infrastructure and industrialization, there was a corresponding need to develop the educational system to provide the skilled workforce required for these ambitious projects.

### Legal Characteristics and Classification

Law No. 3734/1960 is classified as a federal statute (lei) within Brazil's legal system. It represents a formal written document that creates law, falling under the broader category of statutory law. The legislation follows the standard format for Brazilian federal laws, with its official citation being "Lei nº 3734/1960."

As with other Brazilian federal laws, this statute is written in Brazilian Portuguese and applies to the entire territory of Brazil. It operates within the hierarchical structure of Brazil's legal system, where federal laws take precedence over state and municipal legislation in matters of national concern.

### Documentation and Accessibility

The official text of Law No. 3734/1960 is preserved in multiple authoritative sources. The primary digital repository is the Brazilian Presidency's legislation portal, where the complete text is available at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3734.htm.

The law is also referenced in the LexML Brazil legal information system under the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1960-03-08;3734. This inclusion in official legal databases ensures the law's accessibility for legal research, historical studies, and government transparency purposes.

### Relationship to Brazil's Educational System

This legislation provides important insights into the structure and funding of Brazil's Ministry of Education during the late 1950s and early 1960s. The special budgetary adjustments indicate that the Ministry of Education required additional resources beyond its regular budget to implement specific programs or address particular needs.

The law's focus on the Ministry of Education demonstrates the Brazilian government's recognition of education as a critical component of national development. This aligns with the broader developmentalist policies of the Kubitschek administration, which sought to modernize Brazil through coordinated investments in infrastructure, industry, and human capital.

### Connection to Brazil's Democratic Period

Law No. 3734/1960 was enacted during Brazil's democratic period (1946-1964), which followed the Estado Novo dictatorship and preceded the military regime that began in 1964. This places the legislation within a specific historical context of democratic governance and constitutional rule.

The law represents the functioning of Brazil's legislative institutions during this period, where laws were created through proper constitutional channels. The democratic context is significant because it demonstrates the law's creation through representative processes rather than authoritarian decree.

### Preservation and Research Value

As a historical legal document, Law No. 3734/1960 holds value for researchers studying Brazil's educational policies, budgetary processes, and legislative history. The law provides concrete evidence of how the Brazilian government addressed educational funding needs during a crucial period of national development.

For legal historians, this statute offers insights into the administrative structure of Brazil's Ministry of Education and the mechanisms used for special budgetary allocations. The law's preservation in official government archives ensures its availability for future research and historical analysis.

### Comparison with Other Brazilian Laws

Law No. 3734/1960 shares characteristics with other Brazilian federal statutes of its era. Like many laws from this period, it focuses on specific administrative or budgetary matters rather than broad policy changes. The law's structure and language follow the standard format for Brazilian legislation of the time.

What distinguishes this law is its specific focus on educational budgetary adjustments during a period of intense national development. This makes it particularly valuable for understanding the relationship between education funding and Brazil's broader modernization efforts in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1960-03-08;3734)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3734&ano=1960&data=08/03/1960&ato=037ATVq50dVRVT37f)