# Law No. 3957 of September 12, 1961

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648073](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648073)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3957-of-september-12-1961

## Summary
Law No. 3957 of September 12, 1961, is a Brazilian federal statute enacted to authorize a special budgetary adjustment ("Credito Especial") for the Ministry of Education. Promulgated by President João Goulart in Brasília, it serves as a formal legal instrument within the jurisdiction of Brazil. The law is officially classified as a statute and is accessible in Brazilian Portuguese via the Planalto presidential archive and the LexML database.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3957, de 12 de setembro de 1961
- **Type of Legal Instrument:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Date of Enactment:** September 12, 1961
- **Promulgating Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Approving Official:** João Goulart (President, acting via promulgation on 1961-09-12)
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Main Subjects:** Special budgetary adjustment (Credito Especial) and the Ministry of Education (Ministerio Da Educação - MEC)
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3957/1961
- **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-09-12;3957
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3957.htm
- **Wikidata Description:** Brazilian law
- **On Focus List:** WikiProject Brazilian Laws

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 3957/1961?**
This law authorizes a special budgetary adjustment, known as a "Credito Especial," specifically designated for the Ministry of Education. Its enactment provides the legal basis for this specific financial allocation within the Brazilian federal government.

**Who signed Law No. 3957 into force?**
The law was approved and promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, with João Goulart serving as the acting president at the time of its enactment on September 12, 1961.

**Where can the official text of this law be accessed?**
The full text is available online through the official portal of the Brazilian Presidency (Planalto) and is indexed in the LexML Brazil legal database with the identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-09-12;3957`.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3957 of September 12, 1961, represents a specific exercise of legislative and executive authority in Brazil during the early 1960s. Its significance lies in its direct impact on public administration, specifically the financing of the Ministry of Education. By authorizing a "special budgetary adjustment" (Credito Especial), the law facilitated exceptional funding measures outside the standard budgetary process, allowing the government to address urgent or unforeseen financial needs within the education sector. As a formal statute, it exemplifies the mechanism by which Brazilian federal law is created, documented, and made accessible to the public, serving as a primary source for understanding historical governmental priorities and fiscal policies of that era.

## Notable For
- **Specific Budgetary Function:** Targets the Ministry of Education for a special credit allocation.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during the presidency of João Goulart, a period of significant political activity in Brazil.
- **Legal Classification:** A clear example of a Brazilian federal "statute," the standard form of written law in the country.
- **Digital Preservation:** Fully integrated into modern legal databases like LexML and the official Planalto website.
- **Community Recognition:** Listed as a focus item for WikiProject Brazilian Laws, indicating its relevance to legal and historical documentation efforts.

## Body

### Legal Identity and Formal Classification
Law No. 3957, enacted on September 12, 1961, is formally classified as a **statute**. In the context of Brazilian and general legal theory, a statute is a formal written document created to establish law. It serves as a manifestation of statutory law and is the primary instrument through which government authority is exercised and recorded. This law is an instance of a "legal term or legal concept" and is a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." Its official legal citation is **Lei nº 3957/1961**.

### Enactment and Presidential Authority
The law was promulgated on **September 12, 1961**, by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The approving official was **João Goulart**, who served as President at that time. The act of promulgation took place in **Brasília**, the federal capital of Brazil, which had been established as the seat of government just one year prior, in 1960.

### Jurisdiction and Language
The statute applies to the entire jurisdiction of **Brazil** and is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**, the official language of the country. As a federal law, its authority extends across all states and territories within the Brazilian federative republic. The law is part of the broader body of Brazilian legislation, which is founded on the Constitution of Brazil and enacted by the National Congress.

### Subject Matter and Purpose
The primary subjects of Law No. 3957 are:
- **Special Budgetary Adjustment:** Referred to in Portuguese as "Credito Especial." This indicates an exceptional allocation of funds outside the ordinary annual budget, typically used for unforeseen or urgent expenses.
- **Ministry of Education:** Designated as "Ministerio Da Educação (MEC)." The law specifically directs the special credit to this federal ministry, highlighting the government's fiscal attention to educational matters at that time.

### Digital Availability and Identifiers
The full text of Law No. 3957 is preserved and made publicly available through official digital channels, ensuring accessibility and transparency.
- **Official URL:** The law can be accessed on the official website of the Brazilian Presidency at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3957.htm`.
- **LexML Brazil ID:** It is indexed in the national legal data system with the unique URN (Uniform Resource Name) `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-09-12;3957`.
- **Wikimedia Project:** It is on the focus list of **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, a collaborative effort to organize and improve coverage of Brazilian legal topics on Wikimedia projects.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-09-12;3957)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3957&ano=1961&data=12/09/1961&ato=c97EzaE5keVRVTb79)