# Law No. 3960 of September 20, 1961

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648076](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648076)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3960-of-september-20-1961

## Summary
Law No. 3960 of September 20, 1961, is a Brazilian federal statute that mandates the compulsory use of a distinctive emblem for national health organizations. Enacted during the presidency of João Goulart, this law serves as the official legal instrument establishing specific identification requirements for health entities within the Federative Republic of Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 3960, de 20 de setembro de 1961 (Law No. 3960, of September 20, 1961).
- **Legal Classification:** Statute (a formal written document creating law).
- **Date of Enactment:** September 20, 1961.
- **Jurisdiction:** Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Primary Subject:** Mandatory use of a distinctive emblem for national health organizations.
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Promulgating Authority:** João Goulart (served as President at the time of promulgation).
- **Official Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3960/1961.
- **LexML Brazil Identifier:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-09-20;3960.
- **Main Subjects:** "Use" (Utilização) and "Obligation" (Obrigatoriedade).
- **Online Access:** Available at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3960.htm.
- **Source Reference:** Legislation.gov.br (Presidency of the Republic).

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 3960?**
The law establishes the mandatory obligation for national health organizations to utilize a specific distinctive emblem. It functions as a regulatory measure to ensure standardized identification for these entities across the country.

**Who signed this law into effect?**
The statute was approved and promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under the leadership of President João Goulart. The act of promulgation occurred on the same day the law was dated, September 20, 1961.

**Where can the official text of this law be accessed?**
The full text is available online through the official government portal at the Planalto website. It is also indexed in the LexML Brazil system under the unique identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-09-20;3960.

**What specific concepts does this law regulate?**
The legislation focuses on two main legal concepts: the "use" (Utilização) of the emblem and the "obligation" (Obrigatoriedade) to display it. These concepts form the core legal framework for the statute's application to health organizations.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3960 is significant because it standardizes the visual identity of national health organizations in Brazil, ensuring they are easily recognizable by the public and other government bodies. By mandating a distinctive emblem, the law enhances administrative clarity and reinforces the official status of these health entities within the national framework. This regulation supports the broader public health infrastructure by creating a unified legal requirement for identification, which aids in oversight, compliance, and public trust. As a federal statute, it represents a concrete exercise of legislative power to organize and regulate the health sector during the early 1960s, a period of significant political and social development in Brazil.

## Notable For
- **Mandatory Emblem Requirement:** It is the specific legal basis for the compulsory use of a distinctive emblem by national health organizations.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during the presidency of João Goulart, a pivotal figure in Brazilian political history.
- **Digital Preservation:** Fully digitized and accessible via the official Planalto government archive and the LexML Brazil repository.
- **Legal Specificity:** Explicitly defines the concepts of "use" and "obligation" as its main subjects, providing clear legal directives.
- **Federal Scope:** Applies to the entire territory of the Federative Republic of Brazil as a federal law.
- **Unique Identifier:** Assigned the specific LexML Brazil URN `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-09-20;3960` for precise citation and retrieval.

## Body

### Definition and Legal Nature
Law No. 3960 of September 20, 1961, is classified as a **statute**, which is a formal written document that creates law. In the context of the Brazilian legal system, it functions as an act passed by the legislature and promulgated by the executive branch. The law is an instance of a "legal term or legal concept" and serves as a manifestation of statutory law. It is distinct from general legislation in that it addresses a specific regulatory requirement: the identification of health organizations. The document is written in **Brazilian Portuguese** and is legally binding throughout the jurisdiction of Brazil.

### Core Provisions and Subjects
The primary function of this statute is to institute the **mandatory use** of a distinctive emblem. The law explicitly focuses on two main subjects:
- **Utilização (Use):** The act of employing the designated emblem by the relevant organizations.
- **Obrigatoriedade (Obligation):** The legal requirement compelling national health organizations to adopt this emblem.
These subjects are not merely administrative suggestions but are codified as legal obligations. The law targets "national health organizations," implying a scope that covers entities operating at a federal or national level within the Brazilian health sector. By establishing this obligation, the law ensures a uniform standard of identification.

### Enactment and Promulgation History
The law was enacted on **September 20, 1961**. At the time of its creation, the head of state was **João Goulart**, who served as the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The law was approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**, marking the final step in the legislative process before it became effective. The determination method for this approval was **promulgation**, which occurred on the same date as the law's publication. The place of publication was **Brasília**, the capital of Brazil, which had been established as the seat of government in 1960.

### Official Identifiers and Citations
To ensure precise referencing and retrieval, the law is assigned several unique identifiers across different systems:
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-09-20;3960`. This Uniform Resource Name (URN) is the standard for Brazilian legal documents in the LexML ecosystem.
- **Legal Citation:** The standard short form citation is **Lei nº 3960/1961**.
- **Wikidata Description:** The entity is described simply as "Brazilian law" in the Wikidata knowledge base.
- **Work Availability:** The text is hosted at the official Planalto URL: `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3960.htm`.
- **Reference Sources:** The data is referenced from the Presidency's legislation portal (`legislacao.presidencia.gov.br`) and the LexML portal (`lexml.gov.br`), with access dates recorded in early 2021.

### Jurisdictional Scope and Application
The law applies to the **Federative Republic of Brazil**. Its jurisdiction is national, meaning it supersedes state or municipal regulations regarding the specific emblem for national health organizations. The statute is part of the broader body of federal laws enacted between 1950 and 1969, a period that saw significant legislative activity in Brazil. The language of the work is exclusively **Brazilian Portuguese**, reflecting the official language of the country. The law does not appear to have international application, as it is a domestic statute focused on internal organizational standards.

### Context within the Brazilian Legal System
As a statute, Law No. 3960 is a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." It is created through the process of **legislation** and is caused by a **legal act**. In the hierarchy of Brazilian law, it stands as a federal law, distinct from executive orders or by-laws, though it shares the characteristic of being a formal written document that creates law. The law's existence is documented in the **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, indicating its recognition within the Wikimedia community as a significant legal entity. The law's specific focus on health organization emblems places it within the intersection of administrative law and public health regulation.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-09-20;3960)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3960&ano=1961&data=20/09/1961&ato=9a9UzaE5keVRVTef6)
3. LexML Brasil