# Law No. 3738 of April 4, 1960

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648732](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648732)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3738-of-april-4-1960

## Summary
**Law No. 3738 of April 4, 1960** is a Brazilian statute enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek. Officially titled "Lei nº 3738, de 4 de abril de 1960," it addresses military affairs, specifically regulating the concession of special pensions ("Pensão Especial").

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3738, de 4 de abril de 1960.
- **Entity Type:** Instance of a statute (formal written document that creates law).
- **Enactment Date:** Promulgated on April 4, 1960.
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil; signed by President Juscelino Kubitschek.
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies to the country of Brazil.
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3738/1960.
- **Main Subjects:** Military affairs, Special Pension (Pensão Especial), and Concession (Concessão).
- **LexML ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1960-04-04;3738.
- **Official URL:** Available at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3738.htm.

## FAQs
**What is the primary subject matter of Law No. 3738?**
The law focuses on military affairs, specifically providing regulations for the "Concession" of "Special Pensions" (Pensão Especial) to eligible parties.

**Who approved and enacted this law?**
The statute was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, with promulgation performed by President Juscelino Kubitschek on April 4, 1960.

**Where was the law originally published?**
Although the capital of Brazil transitioned to Brasília on April 22, 1960, this law was published in Rio de Janeiro on April 4, 1960, reflecting the administrative center at the time of enactment.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3738 matters as a specific legal instrument governing social welfare provisions for the military sector in Brazil. Enacted just weeks before the official inauguration of Brasília, it represents one of the final legislative acts managed through the Rio de Janeiro administrative apparatus. By formalizing the criteria for "Special Pensions," the law establishes a statutory framework for financial support, reflecting the state's obligation to military personnel and their beneficiaries. As a statute, it serves as a manifestation of statutory law, creating binding legal norms within the Brazilian jurisdiction.

## Notable For
- **Pre-Brasília Enactment:** Promulgated on April 4, 1960, making it one of the last federal laws published in Rio de Janeiro before the capital officially moved to Brasília on April 22, 1960.
- **Military Welfare Focus:** Specifically notable for its targeted regulation of "Special Pensions" for the military, a distinct category of social security.
- **Presidential Signatory:** Bears the signature of President Juscelino Kubitschek, a pivotal figure in Brazilian history known for his "50 years in 5" modernization platform.
- **Digital Preservation:** Fully digitized and accessible via the official Planalto Palace archives, ensuring public domain availability.

## Body

### Legislative Classification and Definition
Law No. 3738 is formally classified as a **statute**. In the context of legal theory, a statute is a formal written document that creates law, functioning as a manifestation of statutory law. It is considered a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." This law exists as a concrete legal norm caused by the act of legislation and serves as the official record of the rules enacted by the Brazilian government.

### Historical Context and Enactment
The law was promulgated on **April 4, 1960**, a significant date in Brazilian administrative history. At the time of its publication, **Rio de Janeiro** served as the federal capital; the transition to the new capital, Brasília, would not be formalized until April 22, 1960. Consequently, the place of publication is listed as Rio de Janeiro.

The statute was enacted under the authority of the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**, with the determination method explicitly listed as "promulgation." The specific head of state responsible was **Juscelino Kubitschek**, the 21st President of Brazil, who served from 1956 to 1961.

### Subject Matter and Provisions
The content of Law No. 3738 is categorized under three main subject headings, as stated in the legislative record:
1.  **Military (Militar):** The primary sector addressed by the legislation.
2.  **Special Pension (Pensão Especial):** A specific type of financial benefit or welfare provision.
3.  **Concession (Concessão):** The administrative act of granting or bestowing the benefit.

This triad of subjects indicates that the law functions as a regulatory framework for granting special pensions to military personnel or their dependents.

### Jurisdiction and Language
The statute applies strictly to the jurisdiction of **Brazil**. The language of the work is **Brazilian Portuguese**, consistent with the official language of the federative republic. The legal citation format for this instrument is **Lei nº 3738/1960**.

### Identification and Accessibility
To facilitate legal research and digital access, the law is indexed under specific identifiers:
-   **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1960-04-04;3738`. This URN (Uniform Resource Name) provides a persistent identifier for the legal text.
-   **Official Web Address:** The full text is archived and available for public consultation at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3738.htm` via the official presidency portal.

### Related Entities
The law is intrinsically linked to the entity **Brazil**, a country in South America. Brazil is characterized as a federal republic with Portuguese as its official language. The law operates within the Brazilian legal system, which is founded on the Constitution and administered by the National Congress. The statute represents a specific instance of the broader concept of "statute," which globally encompasses acts, executive orders, and by-laws.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1960-04-04;3738)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3738&ano=1960&data=04/04/1960&ato=c22QTVq50dVRVT9b1)