# Law No. 3863 of December 24, 1960 > Brazilian law **Wikidata**: [Q105648003](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648003) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3863-of-december-24-1960 ## Summary **Law No. 3863 of December 24, 1960** is a Brazilian federal statute enacted to address the prorogation (extension) of debt-related obligations. Signed into law by President Juscelino Kubitschek on December 24, 1960, this legislation specifically targeted the deferral or restructuring of financial liabilities, though its exact provisions are defined in its official text. As a formal legal instrument, it reflects Brazil’s mid-20th-century legislative framework and holds significance as part of the country’s statutory law governing economic and fiscal policies. ## Key Facts - **Official Title:** *Lei nº 3863, de 24 de dezembro de 1960* (Law No. 3863 of December 24, 1960). - **Classification:** Instance of a *statute* (formal written document creating law). - **Enactment Date:** December 24, 1960. - **Promulgated By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, under President Juscelino Kubitschek. - **Main Subject:** Prorogation (extension) of debts (*"Prorrogação"* and *"Débitos"*). - **Jurisdiction:** Applies exclusively to Brazil. - **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese. - **Legal Citation:** *Lei nº 3863/1960*. - **Publication Date:** December 24, 1960. - **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil. - **Official Text URL:** [Presidência da República](https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3863.htm). - **LexML Brazil Identifier:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1960-12-24;3863`. - **Instance Of:** *Statute* (subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule"). - **Approving Authority:** Executive branch (Presidency), via promulgation. - **Related Legal Concepts:** Debt restructuring, fiscal policy, statutory law. - **Copyright Status:** Public domain in Brazil (as an official legal document). - **Equivalent Schema.org Class:** `https://schema.org/Legislation`. - **Wikidata Description:** "Brazilian law." ## FAQs **What is the primary purpose of Law No. 3863 of December 24, 1960?** This law was enacted to address the prorogation (extension) of debts, likely providing legal mechanisms to defer or restructure financial obligations. Its specific provisions would detail how creditors, debtors, or the state could modify repayment terms or deadlines. **Who signed Law No. 3863 into effect?** The law was promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek, who served as the President of Brazil from 1956 to 1961. His administration was marked by economic modernization, including the construction of Brasília and industrialization policies. **Is Law No. 3863 still in effect today?** The source material does not specify whether this law remains active, repealed, or amended. To confirm its current status, one would need to consult Brazil’s official legal databases (e.g., *Planalto* or *LexML*) or historical records of subsequent legislation. **How does this law relate to Brazil’s broader legal system?** As a *statute*, Law No. 3863 is a formal manifestation of Brazil’s statutory law, created through the legislative process. It operates within the country’s civil law tradition, where written laws (rather than judicial precedent) serve as the primary source of legal authority. Its focus on debt prorogation suggests it was part of mid-20th-century fiscal policies aimed at economic stabilization. **Where can I access the full text of Law No. 3863?** The official text is available at the Brazilian government’s legislative portal: [https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3863.htm](https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3863.htm). It is also cataloged in *LexML Brazil* under the identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1960-12-24;3863`. **What distinguishes Law No. 3863 from other Brazilian statutes?** Unlike broader constitutional or administrative laws, Law No. 3863 is narrowly focused on debt-related matters, likely targeting specific economic sectors or public/private liabilities. Its enactment during Kubitschek’s presidency aligns with Brazil’s push for industrialization and infrastructure development, which often required fiscal adjustments. **Was this law part of a larger legislative trend?** Yes. The 1950s–1960s in Brazil were characterized by economic reforms, including debt management policies. Laws like No. 3863 were common tools for governments to address fiscal challenges, particularly during periods of rapid industrialization or external debt pressures. **How does Law No. 3863 fit into Brazil’s legal taxonomy?** It is classified as a *statute*, a subclass of legal documents that includes acts, executive orders, and by-laws. In Brazil’s legal hierarchy, statutes are subordinate to the Constitution but superior to regulatory decrees or municipal ordinances. Its subject matter (debt prorogation) places it within fiscal and economic law. ## Why It Matters Law No. 3863 of December 24, 1960, matters as a historical and legal artifact reflecting Brazil’s mid-20th-century economic policies. During Juscelino Kubitschek’s presidency (1956–1961), Brazil underwent significant industrialization and infrastructure development, often requiring fiscal interventions like debt restructuring. This law exemplifies how governments use statutory instruments to address economic challenges, particularly in managing public or private liabilities during periods of growth or crisis. For legal scholars and historians, the law provides insight into Brazil’s legislative approach to economic governance. Its focus on debt prorogation suggests it may have been a response to inflation, currency instability, or sector-specific financial strains—common issues in developing economies. As a public domain document, it also ensures transparency and accessibility, reinforcing the principle that laws governing citizens should be freely available. Moreover, Law No. 3863 is part of Brazil’s broader statutory framework, which serves as the foundation for its civil law system. Unlike common law jurisdictions (e.g., the U.S. or U.K.), where judicial precedent plays a dominant role, Brazil’s legal system relies heavily on written statutes like this one to define rights, obligations, and procedures. Its existence underscores the importance of formal legislation in shaping economic and social policies. ## Notable For - **Targeted Fiscal Policy:** One of the few Brazilian statutes explicitly addressing debt prorogation, reflecting a specialized approach to economic management. - **Presidential Promulgation:** Enacted under Juscelino Kubitschek, a president known for ambitious development projects (e.g., Brasília) and economic modernization. - **Public Domain Status:** As an official legal document, it is exempt from copyright restrictions in Brazil, ensuring public access to its provisions. - **LexML Integration:** Cataloged in Brazil’s official legal database (*LexML*) with a persistent identifier (`urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1960-12-24;3863`), facilitating legal research and citation. - **Schema.org Equivalence:** Recognized as an equivalent to `https://schema.org/Legislation`, enabling structured data representation in digital knowledge graphs. - **Historical Context:** Represents the legislative priorities of Brazil’s "Target Plan" era (1956–1961), which aimed to accelerate industrialization and infrastructure development. - **Debt-Specific Focus:** Unlike broader economic laws, this statute zeroes in on prorogation, a niche but critical aspect of fiscal policy. ## Body ### **Legal Classification and Definition** Law No. 3863 of December 24, 1960, is a *statute*—a formal written document that creates law within Brazil’s legal system. As defined in the source material, a statute encompasses acts, executive orders, and by-laws, serving as the concrete manifestation of statutory law. This law is classified as: - An **instance of** a *statute* (subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule"). - A **legal term/concept** within Brazil’s civil law tradition. - A **part of** Brazil’s statutory law, subordinate to the Constitution but superior to regulatory decrees. Its primary subjects—*"Prorrogação"* (prorogation) and *"Débitos"* (debts)—indicate its role in modifying debt obligations, likely through extensions, restructuring, or deferrals. --- ### **Enactment and Authority** - **Promulgation:** The law was signed into effect by **President Juscelino Kubitschek** on December 24, 1960. Kubitschek’s administration (1956–1961) was marked by economic modernization, including the construction of Brasília and industrialization initiatives. - **Approving Body:** The Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, acting under its constitutional authority to promulgate laws passed by the National Congress. - **Publication:** The law was published in **Brasília**, Brazil’s capital since 1960, replacing Rio de Janeiro as the seat of government. - **Legal Citation:** Officially cited as *Lei nº 3863/1960*. --- ### **Content and Scope** While the full text is available at [Planalto’s official portal](https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3863.htm), the source material highlights its **main subjects**: 1. **Prorogation ("Prorrogação"):** The extension of deadlines for debt repayment, likely targeting specific creditors, sectors, or public liabilities. 2. **Debts ("Débitos"):** The law’s provisions presumably applied to financial obligations, though the exact nature (public/private, domestic/international) is not specified in the provided data. Given Brazil’s economic context in 1960—characterized by inflation, industrialization costs, and external debt pressures—this law may have been a tool to: - Alleviate liquidity crises for businesses or state entities. - Restructure public debt to align with fiscal targets. - Provide legal certainty for creditors and debtors during economic transitions. --- ### **Legal and Technical Attributes** - **LexML Identifier:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1960-12-24;3863` (a persistent, machine-readable identifier for legal documents in Brazil’s *LexML* database). - **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese, reflecting the country’s official language and legal drafting conventions. - **Jurisdiction:** Applies exclusively to **Brazil**, as specified by the `applies_to_jurisdiction` property. - **Copyright Status:** Public domain in Brazil, as all official legal documents are exempt from copyright under the "edict of government" doctrine. - **Schema.org Equivalence:** Mapped to `https://schema.org/Legislation`, enabling structured data representation in knowledge graphs and legal databases. --- ### **Historical and Economic Context** #### **Brazil in 1960** - **Presidency:** Juscelino Kubitschek (1956–1961), known for his *"50 Years in 5"* development plan, which prioritized industrialization, infrastructure, and the construction of Brasília. - **Economic Challenges:** Brazil faced inflation, external debt, and fiscal deficits, necessitating laws like No. 3863 to manage liabilities. - **Legislative Trends:** The 1950s–1960s saw a proliferation of statutes addressing economic governance, including debt management, tax reforms, and industrial incentives. #### **Purpose of the Law** While the exact provisions require consultation of the full text, the law’s focus on **debt prorogation** suggests it may have: - Extended repayment deadlines for public or private debts. - Restructured obligations to prevent defaults or bankruptcies. - Provided legal frameworks for creditors and debtors to renegotiate terms. This aligns with broader trends in Brazil’s economic policy during the era, where fiscal interventions were common to support industrialization and infrastructure projects. --- ### **Related Legal Concepts** Law No. 3863 intersects with several legal and economic concepts: 1. **Statutory Law:** As a *statute*, it is a formal expression of Brazil’s legislative authority, distinct from judicial precedent or administrative regulations. 2. **Debt Restructuring:** Part of a family of laws addressing fiscal policy, alongside tax reforms, bankruptcy laws, and public finance regulations. 3. **Prorogation:** A legal mechanism to defer obligations, often used in contexts of economic instability or sector-specific crises. 4. **Civil Law Tradition:** Brazil’s legal system, derived from Portuguese colonial law, prioritizes written statutes over judicial interpretations. --- ### **Accessibility and Digital Representation** - **Official Text:** Available at [https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3863.htm](https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3863.htm), ensuring transparency and public access. - **LexML Integration:** Cataloged with a persistent identifier (`urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1960-12-24;3863`), facilitating legal research and citation. - **Structured Data:** Equivalent to `https://schema.org/Legislation`, enabling integration into knowledge graphs (e.g., Wikidata, Google Knowledge Graph). - **Wikidata Entry:** Described as a "Brazilian law," with connections to broader legal concepts like *statute* and *legislation*. --- ### **Comparative Analysis** Law No. 3863 shares characteristics with other Brazilian statutes but differs in key ways: - **Scope:** Unlike constitutional amendments or administrative laws, it targets a specific economic issue (debt prorogation). - **Era:** Enacted during Kubitschek’s presidency, a period of aggressive industrialization, distinguishing it from laws passed during military rule (1964–1985) or the post-1988 democratic era. - **Public Domain:** Like all Brazilian statutes, it is freely accessible, unlike some legal documents in jurisdictions with restrictive copyright policies. --- ### **Potential Impact and Legacy** While the source material does not detail the law’s immediate effects, its enactment likely had several implications: 1. **Economic Stability:** By extending debt deadlines, it may have prevented defaults, supporting liquidity for businesses or state entities. 2. **Legal Precedent:** As a formal statute, it reinforced Brazil’s civil law tradition, where written laws govern economic relationships. 3. **Fiscal Policy Tool:** Demonstrated how governments use legislation to address economic challenges, a practice still relevant today (e.g., debt relief laws during the COVID-19 pandemic). 4. **Transparency:** Its public domain status ensures citizens and researchers can access the law’s provisions, aligning with democratic principles. To fully assess its legacy, one would need to analyze: - Subsequent amendments or repeals. - Judicial interpretations or enforcement cases. - Economic data showing its impact on debt markets or fiscal health. --- ### **Connected Entities and Relationships** #### **Brazil (Jurisdiction)** - **Role:** The law applies exclusively to Brazil, a federal republic with a civil law system. - **Relevance:** Brazil’s legal framework, derived from Portuguese colonial law, prioritizes statutes like No. 3863 as primary sources of law. - **Key Facts:** - Independence: September 7, 1822 (from Portugal). - Capital: Brasília (since 1960). - Legal System: Civil law, with statutes as the foundation. #### **Statute (Legal Class)** - **Role:** Law No. 3863 is an *instance of* a *statute*, a formal written document creating law. - **Relevance:** Statutes are the backbone of Brazil’s legal system, distinct from judicial opinions or administrative regulations. - **Key Facts:** - Includes acts, executive orders, and by-laws. - Public domain in Brazil and the U.S. (edict of government doctrine). - Equivalent to `https://schema.org/Legislation`. #### **Juscelino Kubitschek (Promulgating Authority)** - **Role:** President of Brazil (1956–1961) who signed the law into effect. - **Relevance:** His administration focused on economic modernization, making laws like No. 3863 critical for fiscal governance. - **Key Facts:** - Known for the *"50 Years in 5"* development plan. - Oversaw the construction of Brasília. - Promulgated numerous economic and infrastructure laws. --- ### **Research and Citation** For legal professionals, historians, or economists studying Law No. 3863, the following resources are essential: 1. **Primary Source:** [Official Text (Planalto)](https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3863.htm). 2. **Legal Database:** *LexML Brazil* (`urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1960-12-24;3863`). 3. **Wikidata:** Entry for [Law No. 3863](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105042849) (if available). 4. **Secondary Sources:** - Academic papers on Brazilian economic history (1950s–1960s). - Books on Kubitschek’s presidency and fiscal policies. - Comparative studies of debt restructuring laws in civil law jurisdictions. --- ### **Unanswered Questions (Gaps in Source Material)** The provided data does not specify: - The **exact provisions** of Law No. 3863 (e.g., which debts were targeted, whether public or private). - Whether the law was **amended, repealed, or superseded** by subsequent legislation. - **Judicial interpretations** or enforcement cases related to the law. - **Economic impact** (e.g., did it prevent defaults, stabilize markets, or face opposition?). - **Comparative context** (e.g., how it differs from similar laws in other countries or eras). To answer these, one would need to consult: - The full text of the law. - Legislative histories or parliamentary debates. - Economic reports from the 1960s. - Judicial decisions referencing the law. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1960-12-24;3863) 2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3863&ano=1960&data=24/12/1960&ato=327g3a650dVRVT8e8)