# Law No. 3962 of September 20, 1961

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648087](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648087)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3962-of-september-20-1961

## Summary
Law No. 3962 of September 20, 1961, is a Brazilian statute enacted during the presidency of João Goulart, focusing on special budgetary adjustments for the Ministry of Health and the State of Guanabara. It represents a legislative action to address public health and administrative needs in Brazil during a period of political transition.

## Key Facts
- **Enactment Date:** September 20, 1961.
- **Jurisdiction:** Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Approved By:** President João Goulart, who promulgated the law as part of his executive authority.
- **Related Entities:** 
  - **Ministry of Health (MS):** A primary subject of the law, indicating its focus on health sector funding.
  - **State of Guanabara (GB):** A now-defunct administrative division (1960–1975) corresponding to the city of Rio de Janeiro, specifically addressed in the legislation.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3962/1961.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Publication:** Officially published in Brasília, with the full text available via the Brazilian Presidency’s legal database.
- **LexML Identifier:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-09-20;3962.
- **Context:** Part of Brazil’s legislative framework during the early 1960s, preceding the 1964 military coup.

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 3962?**  
This law authorized special budgetary adjustments for the Ministry of Health and the State of Guanabara, addressing fiscal and administrative needs in Brazil during 1961.

**Who enacted Law No. 3962?**  
The law was approved and promulgated by President João Goulart, who served as the 25th President of Brazil from 1961 to 1964.

**What regions or institutions does the law specifically target?**  
It focuses on the Ministry of Health and the State of Guanabara, a historical administrative division that existed from 1960 to 1975, encompassing the city of Rio de Janeiro.

**Where can the full text of the law be accessed?**  
The complete text is available through the Brazilian government’s official legal database at [https://www.planalto.gov.br](https://www.planalto.gov.br).

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3962 is significant as it reflects Brazil’s legislative efforts to allocate resources to critical areas like public health and regional administration during a politically volatile period. The law underscores the government’s response to infrastructural and societal demands, particularly in Guanabara (Rio de Janeiro), a densely populated and economically vital region. Its enactment during João Goulart’s presidency contextualizes the legislative actions taken amid Brazil’s democratic governance prior to the 1964 military regime. This statute remains a reference point for understanding fiscal policy and administrative adjustments in mid-20th-century Brazil.

## Notable For
- **Special Budgetary Focus:** One of the key laws addressing special credit allocations for health and regional development in early 1960s Brazil.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during the presidency of João Goulart, a pivotal figure in Brazil’s democratic history before the military dictatorship.
- **Guanabara State Relevance:** Directly pertains to the administrative and fiscal management of Guanabara, a unique political entity that later reintegrated into Rio de Janeiro state.
- **Public Health Emphasis:** Highlights the Brazilian government’s legislative efforts to bolster healthcare infrastructure during a period of social change.

## Body

### Enactment Context
Law No. 3962 was promulgated on September 20, 1961, under President João Goulart, who led Brazil during a tumultuous political era marked by economic instability and social unrest. The legislation was part of a broader series of measures aimed at addressing immediate fiscal and administrative challenges, particularly in the health sector and the newly established State of Guanabara.

### Legislative History
The law’s creation followed the 1960 division of the Federal District into the new state of Guanabara and the reinstated state of Rio de Janeiro. This reorganization necessitated legislative adjustments to manage fiscal responsibilities, including budget allocations for public services. As a statute, Law No. 3962 exemplifies the formal legal processes outlined in Brazil’s 1946 Constitution, which governed legislation until the 1968 military regime’s constitution.

### Key Provisions
- **Special Budgetary Adjustments:** Authorized extraordinary financial measures to support the Ministry of Health’s operations and Guanabara’s administrative functions. These adjustments were designed to ensure continuity in public services amid Brazil’s economic fluctuations.
- **Jurisdictional Focus:** The inclusion of Guanabara as a distinct entity in the law reflects the government’s efforts to stabilize and integrate the newly created state into Brazil’s federal structure.

### Historical Significance
The law is a product of Brazil’s Second Republic (1946–1964), a period defined by democratic governance, coalition politics, and increasing social mobilization. Its enactment under Goulart—a populist leader who advocated for social reforms—positions it within the broader narrative of legislative actions aimed at addressing inequality and infrastructure gaps. However, the law’s long-term impact was overshadowed by the 1964 military coup, which drastically altered Brazil’s political and legal landscape.

### Related Entities and Legacy
- **Ministry of Health:** The law’s provisions reinforced the ministry’s role in public health policy, a critical area given Brazil’s demographic growth and urbanization challenges during the 1960s.
- **Guanabara State:** The statute’s reference to Guanabara underscores the transient nature of administrative divisions in Brazil, as the state was dissolved in 1975 with the reorganization of Guanabara into the state of Rio de Janeiro.
- **João Goulart’s Presidency:** As one of Goulart’s legislative acts, the law contributes to historical analyses of his administration’s efforts to balance political pressures and governance demands prior to the military takeover.

### Accessibility and Documentation
The law is cataloged in Brazil’s LexML database (urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-09-20;3962) and accessible via the Planalto Presidential Portal, ensuring transparency and public access. Its publication in Brasília, the federal capital, adheres to Brazil’s legal requirements for statutory dissemination.

### Comparative Context
While specific to Brazil’s 1961 legislative agenda, Law No. 3962 aligns with global trends of mid-20th-century fiscal legislation aimed at bolstering public institutions and regional development. Its focus on health and administrative adjustments parallels similar statutory efforts in other nations undergoing rapid urbanization and political transformation.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-09-20;3962)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3962&ano=1961&data=20/09/1961&ato=f53gXQU5keVRVT335)