# Law No. 3912 of July 3, 1961

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648054](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648054)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3912-of-july-3-1961

## Summary
**Law No. 3912 of July 3, 1961** (Lei nº 3.912/1961) is a Brazilian statute enacted to extend the validity of Law 1300 of December 28, 1950, widely known as the "Lei do Inquilinato" (Tenancy Law). Approved by President Jânio Quadros and published in Brasília, it functions as a formal legal instrument focusing on the prorogation (extension) of contracts. It is legally classified as a statute, operating within the jurisdiction of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 3912, de 3 de julho de 1961
- **Enactment Date:** July 3, 1961
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Signatory:** President Jânio Quadros
- **Publication Location:** Brasília, Brazil
- **Legal Classification:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Primary Subject:** Prorogation (extension) and Contracts
- **Specific Function:** Extends Law 1300 of December 28, 1950 (Lei do Inquilinato)
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-07-03;3912`
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3912.htm
- **Standard Citation:** Lei nº 3912/1961

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 3912?**
The law was enacted specifically to dispose on the prorogation (extension) of Law 1300, dated December 28, 1950, which is known as the "Lei do Inquilinato" or Tenancy Law.

**Who approved and promulgated this law?**
The statute was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. It was promulgated on July 3, 1961, by President Jânio Quadros.

**How is this law legally classified?**
It is classified as a "statute," which is a formal written document that creates law. As a legal act, it is considered a manifestation of statutory law and results in a legal norm.

**Where was the law published and in what language?**
The law was published in Brasília, the capital of Brazil, and is written in Brazilian Portuguese.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3912 of July 3, 1961, serves as a specific example of legislative action taken to maintain the validity of critical housing regulations in Brazil. By extending the "Lei do Inquilinato" (Tenancy Law), it illustrates the government's intervention in contract law and housing stability during the early 1960s. As a statute, it represents the exercise of federal authority by the Presidency under Jânio Quadros. It functions as a concrete manifestation of statutory law, ensuring that pre-existing legal norms (specifically those from 1950) remained enforceable. Its existence highlights the procedural aspect of Brazilian governance, where laws often require explicit extension or renewal to remain in effect.

## Notable For
- **Extension of the Tenancy Law:** Specifically targeted the prorogation of Law 1300 (Lei do Inquilinato), a major piece of Brazilian housing legislation.
- **Historical Timing:** Enacted on July 3, 1961, during the brief presidency of Jânio Quadros.
- **Legal Structure:** Exemplifies the definition of a "statute" as a formal written document composed of legal norms.
- **Public Domain Status:** As a statute (edict of government), it is generally considered in the public domain, ensuring public access to the law.
- **Standardized Identification:** Possesses a distinct Lexml URN (`urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-07-03;3912`) used for official legal identification in Brazil.

## Body

### Legislative Definition and Scope
Law No. 3912 is an instance of a **statute**, a formal written document that creates law. As a legal term, it is classified as a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." Structurally, it is composed of legal norms and is part of the broader concepts of "law" and "legal act." Its creation was caused by the act of legislation, and it serves as the official record of the legal rule enacted by the Brazilian government.

### Content and Purpose
The official digest of Law No. 3912 states its function clearly: "DISPÕE SOBRE A PRORROGAÇÃO DA LEI 1300, DE 28 DE DEZEMBRO DE 1950 (LEI DO INQUILINATO) E DA OUTRAS PROVIDENCIAS." Consequently, the main subjects of this entity are:
- **Prorogation (Prorrogação):** The act of extending the duration of a law.
- **Contract (Contrato):** The domain of law affected by the Lei do Inquilinato (Tenancy Law).

By extending Law 1300 of 1950, this statute ensured the continuation of regulations regarding rental and tenancy agreements in Brazil.

### Enactment and Authority
The law was created through the federal legislative process of Brazil and approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**.
- **Date:** July 3, 1961 (Publication Date)
- **Authority:** Jânio Quadros (identified via the determination method of promulgation)
- **Location:** Brasília (Place of publication)

This law was enacted roughly one year after Brasília was inaugurated as the federal capital (April 21, 1960).

### Jurisdiction and Context
The law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil** (officially the Federative Republic of Brazil), the largest country in South America.
- **Language:** The work is in **Brazilian Portuguese**.
- **Legal System:** It operates within a federal republic and presidential system. As a federal statute, it is distinct from but related to executive orders and by-laws.

### Official Identifiers and Access
Law No. 3912 is indexed and accessible through various official channels:
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3912/1961
- **Lexml URN:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-07-03;3912` (referenced as of 2021-01-28)
- **Web Access:** The full text is available at the official Planalto Palace website: `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3912.htm`.

### Nature as a Statute
As a statute, Law No. 3912 shares the general characteristics of this document class:
- **Copyright Status:** Like other statutes and edicts of government, it is generally in the public domain (as per doctrines applied in jurisdictions like the U.S. and France, and standard practice for public legal acts).
- **Ontology:** In structured data contexts, an entity of this type is equivalent to `https://schema.org/Legislation`.
- **Function:** It acts as the physical or formal expression of a legal rule, created following draft laws and resulting in statutory law.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-07-03;3912)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3912&ano=1961&data=03/07/1961&ato=5feITUE5keVRVTf94)
3. LexML Brasil