# Law No. 3891 of April 26, 1961

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648049](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648049)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3891-of-april-26-1961

## Summary
**Law No. 3891 of April 26, 1961** (Lei nº 3891, de 26 de abril de 1961) is a Brazilian statute that created the "Social Service of Railways" (Serviço Social das Estradas de Ferro) within the National Department of Railways. Promulgated by President Jânio Quadros in Brasília, it serves as a formal legal instrument of statutory law applicable to the jurisdiction of Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 3891, de 26 de abril de 1961
- **Classification:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Publication Date:** April 26, 1961
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil (Jânio Quadros)
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Primary Subject:** Creation (stated as "Criação") and Railway (stated as "Ferrovia")
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3891/1961
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-04-26;3891`
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3891.htm

## FAQs
**What specific function did Law No. 3891 serve?**
The law mandated the creation of the "Social Service of Railways" (Serviço Social das Estradas de Ferro) within the National Department of Railways (Departamento Nacional de Estradas de Ferro).

**Who signed and promulgated this law?**
The statute was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, with Jânio Quadros listed as the authority responsible for the promulgation on April 26, 1961.

**How is this law formally identified in legal databases?**
It is indexed under the legal citation Lei nº 3891/1961 and possesses a specific LexML Brazil identifier: `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-04-26;3891`.

**What type of legal instrument is this?**
It is classified as a statute, which is a formal written document that creates law. As an edict of government, it falls under the public domain.

## Why It Matters
This statute represents a specific legislative action taken by the Brazilian government in 1961 to formalize and structure social support mechanisms within its railway infrastructure. By establishing the "Social Service of Railways" under the National Department of Railways, the law codified the government's role in the welfare of railway sector workers. As a statute, it functions as a manifestation of statutory law, providing the concrete, written evidence of the legal rules governing the railway sector at that time. Its enactment in Brasília marks it as part of the legislative history of Brazil's federal capital, which had only recently been established in 1960.

## Notable For
- **Sector-Specific Creation:** Specifically targeted the railway sector by creating a dedicated social service entity within the National Department of Railways.
- **Historical Provenance:** Promulgated by Jânio Quadros, a notable figure in Brazilian history, shortly after the inauguration of Brasília as the federal capital.
- **Legal Standardization:** Possesses a unique LexML URN, integrating it into the standardized digital legal framework of Brazil.
- **Public Domain Status:** As an official legal document (statute), it is part of the public domain, ensuring unrestricted public access to the legislation.

## Body

### Legal Classification and Nature
Law No. 3891 of April 26, 1961, is an instance of a **statute**. In the context of legal theory, a statute is defined as a formal written document that creates law. It serves as a manifestation of statutory law and is composed of legal norms. As a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule," this law functions as the official record of the legal rule enacted by the Brazilian government. Being a statute, it is considered an "edict of government," placing it in the public domain to ensure public accessibility.

### Legislative Content and Digest
The core function of this law, as recorded in its legal digest, was the creation of a new entity. Specifically, it established the **"Social Service of Railways"** (Serviço Social das Estradas de Ferro).
- **Target Location:** The service was created within the **National Department of Railways** (Departamento Nacional de Estradas de Ferro).
- **Main Subjects:** The law is categorized under the subjects of "Creation" and "Railway" (Ferrovia).

### Provenance and Authority
The law was enacted through the legislative processes of the **Federative Republic of Brazil**.
- **Promulgation:** It was approved via promulgation on April 26, 1961.
- **Signatory:** The authority listed for this act is the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**, specifically associated with **Jânio Quadros**.
- **Location:** The place of publication was **Brasília**, the capital of Brazil. This is significant as Brasília had only become the federal capital on April 22, 1960, making this law one of the early legislative acts issued from the new capital.

### Jurisdiction and Language
This statute applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil**. The text of the law is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**. Brazil is recognized as the largest country in South America and a federal republic where Portuguese is the official language.

### Digital Identifiers and Access
To facilitate access and archiving, the law is indexed with several identifiers:
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-04-26;3891`
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3891/1961
- **Web Access:** The full text is available at the official government portal: `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3891.htm`.
- **WikiProject:** It is listed on the "WikiProject Brazilian Laws" focus list.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-04-26;3891)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3891&ano=1961&data=26/04/1961&ato=45fkXSE5keVRVTada)
3. LexML Brasil