# Law No. 3966 of October 5, 1961

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648132](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648132)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3966-of-october-5-1961

## Summary
Law No. 3966 of October 5, 1961, is a Brazilian federal statute enacted during the presidency of João Goulart. It is formally classified as a "statute," which is a written legal document that creates law. The legislation addresses subjects including employees, the Ministry of Health, and agreements.

## Key Facts
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 3966, de 5 de outubro de 1961.
- **Type of Document:** It is an instance of a "statute," a formal written document that creates law.
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies to Brazil as a federal law.
- **Publication Date:** Officially published on October 5, 1961.
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília.
- **Approving Authority:** Approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Promulgated by:** President João Goulart on October 5, 1961.
- **Language:** Written in Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Legal Citation:** Cited as "Lei nº 3966/1961".
- **Main Subjects:** The law's text references "Pessoal" (employee), "Ministerio Da Saude (Ms)" (Ministry of Health of Brasil), and "Convenio" (agreement).
- **Official URL:** The full text is available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3966.htm`.
- **Structured Identifier:** Has the LexML Brazil ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-10-05;3966`.
- **Wikimedia Project:** Included in the focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws.

## FAQs
**What is the legal status of Law No. 3966?**
It is a formal statute, meaning it is a binding written law enacted by the Brazilian federal government. As a statute, it is the official document that creates legal rules and is part of Brazil's statutory law.

**Who was responsible for enacting this law?**
The law was promulgated by President João Goulart on October 5, 1961, acting on behalf of the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. This act of promulgation gave the law its legal force.

**What are the main topics covered by this law?**
Based on its textual references, the law deals with matters concerning employees ("Pessoal"), the Ministry of Health ("Ministerio Da Saude"), and agreements ("Convenio"). These are its primary subjects as indicated in the source material.

**Where can I find the official text of this law?**
The authentic text is hosted on the official Brazilian government portal (`planalto.gov.br`) and is also accessible through the LexML Brazil system using its unique identifier (`urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-10-05;3966`).

## Why It Matters
This law matters because it represents the formal exercise of government authority in Brazil, creating binding legal rules for its citizens. As a statute, it is the tangible manifestation of statutory law, providing the definitive reference for courts, public administrators, and citizens subject to its provisions. Its existence and public availability underscore the principle that the laws governing society should be documented, accessible, and enforceable. Furthermore, its classification within a global knowledge framework (as an instance of "statute") allows it to be understood in a broader legal context, connecting Brazilian law to universal concepts of legislation and governance.

## Notable For
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during a significant period of Brazilian history under President João Goulart.
- **Formal Classification:** Serves as a clear example of a "statute," a foundational legal concept.
- **Structured Data Integration:** Possesses a unique and machine-readable identifier (LexML Brazil ID) for precise legal citation and data retrieval.
- **Public Accessibility:** Its official text is maintained on a government portal, aligning with the public domain status typical of statutes in many jurisdictions.

## Body

### Identity and Classification
Law No. 3966 of October 5, 1961, is definitively classified as a **statute**. A statute is a formal written document that creates law, encompassing acts passed by legislatures, executive orders, and by-laws. This classification places it within a specific taxonomic category of legal documents, distinguishing it from broader concepts like "law" or "legislation." It is an instance of a written work and a rule, serving as the manifestation of statutory law.

### Promulgation and Authority
The statute was **approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The act of promulgation was performed by **President João Goulart** on **October 5, 1961**, which is the law's official publication date. This process, caused by the "legal act" of the president, is what gave the law its binding force. The law was published in **Brasília**, the national capital.

### Subject Matter and Content
The law's main subjects, as derived from its text, are:
- **Employee** (referenced as "Pessoal")
- **Ministry of Health of Brasil** (referenced as "Ministerio Da Saude (Ms)")
- **Agreement** (referenced as "Convenio")

These keywords indicate the law's substantive focus areas, though the full details are contained within the official text.

### Jurisdiction and Application
The law **applies to the jurisdiction of Brazil**. As a federal statute, it has nationwide effect unless specified otherwise. Its language of origin is **Brazilian Portuguese**.

### Official Documentation and Access
The law has a standard **legal citation**: "Lei nº 3966/1961". Its full text is officially available at the URL: `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3966.htm`. For structured data systems, it is identified by the **LexML Brazil ID**: `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-10-05;3966`. It is also recognized within the Wikimedia ecosystem as part of **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**.

### Contextual Relationship to Brazil
The statute is a law of **Brazil**, a country in South America that gained independence from Portugal on September 7, 1822. At the time of the law's enactment in 1961, Brazil was a federal republic with its capital in Brasília.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-10-05;3966)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3966&ano=1961&data=05/10/1961&ato=61fETQU5keVRVT2ca)