# Law No. 3969 of October 6, 1961

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648144](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648144)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3969-of-october-6-1961

## Summary
Law No. 3969 of October 6, 1961, is a Brazilian federal statute approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, focusing on the fixation and limitation of economic values regarding electrical energy. Promulgated by João Goulart, the law specifically applies to the municipality of Fortaleza in the state of Ceará and the state of Rio Grande do Norte. It serves as a formal written document creating statutory law within the Brazilian legal system.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3969, de 6 de outubro de 1961.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3969/1961.
- **Date of Approval/Publication:** October 6, 1961.
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (Federal).
- **Instance Of:** Statute (a formal written document that creates law).
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Promulgation:** Executed by João Goulart on October 6, 1961.
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Primary Subject:** Electrical energy (specifically the fixation of value and limitations).
- **Geographical Scope:** Municipality of Fortaleza (Ceará) and the state of Rio Grande do Norte.
- **Identifiers:**
  - LexML Brazil ID: `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-10-06;3969`
  - Available at: `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3969.htm`
- **WikiProject:** Listed on the focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws.

## FAQs
**What is the primary subject of Law No. 3969/1961?**
The law addresses the fixation of economic values and limitations regarding electrical energy. It establishes specific decisions on these values for the municipality of Fortaleza in Ceará and the state of Rio Grande do Norte.

**Who enacted Law No. 3969 of October 6, 1961?**
The statute was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. It was promulgated by João Goulart on October 6, 1961, using the determination method of promulgation.

**Is the text of Law No. 3969 copyrighted?**
No. As a statute classified as a formal written document creating law, it is in the public domain. Under the edict of government doctrine, official legislative enactments are not subject to copyright, ensuring public accessibility.

**Where was this law published?**
Law No. 3969 was published in Brasília, the federal capital of Brazil. The text is available electronically via the official Brazilian government portal at planalto.gov.br.

**What legal classification does this law fall under?**
It is classified as a "statute," which is defined as a formal written document and a subclass of written work and rule. It serves as the manifestation of statutory law.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3969 of 1961 matters because it represents the formal exercise of Brazilian state authority in regulating critical economic infrastructure—specifically the electrical energy sector. By fixing values and imposing limitations on electrical energy in key regions like Fortaleza and Rio Grande do Norte, the statute directly impacts the economic framework and utility costs for consumers and businesses in those areas. As a statute, it serves as the tangible, written manifestation of statutory law, distinct from abstract legal concepts, providing the definitive reference point for enforcement and compliance. Its status as a public domain document ensures that these regulatory rules are accessible to the Brazilian public, reinforcing principles of open government. Furthermore, its enactment during the presidency of João Goulart places it within a specific historical context of Brazilian federal governance.

## Notable For
- **Specific Regulatory Focus:** Notable for targeting the "fixation" and "limitation" of economic values related to "electrical energy" in specific Brazilian states (Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte) and municipalities (Fortaleza).
- **Historical Promulgation:** Promulgated by João Goulart on October 6, 1961, a significant period in Brazilian political history.
- **Standardized Legal Classification:** Formally recognized as an instance of a "statute," aligning with the global legal standard of a formal written document that creates law.
- **Documentation and Accessibility:** Fully integrated into Brazil's digital legal archives, with a specific LexML Brazil ID (`urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-10-06;3969`) and official hosting on the Presidency of the Republic's website.
- **Public Domain Status:** Exempt from copyright restrictions under the edict of government doctrine, allowing for unrestricted dissemination and analysis of the legal text.

## Body

### Legal Definition and Classification
Law No. 3969 of October 6, 1961, is classified fundamentally as a **statute**. In legal taxonomy, a statute is defined as a formal written document that creates law, encompassing acts, executive orders, and by-laws. This entity serves as the manifestation of statutory law and is taxonomically a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." As a statute, Law No. 3969 is composed of legal norms and is the result of the legislative process. Unlike general concepts of legislation, the statute is the concrete, physical, or digital expression of the legal rule enacted by the government. This classification places Law No. 3969 within the same category as other foundational legal instruments globally, recognized by authorities such as the Library of Congress and the Bibliothèque nationale de France. 

Regarding copyright, Law No. 3969 adheres to the standard status of statutes in jurisdictions that follow the edict of government doctrine. This means the document is in the public domain; it is not subject to copyright restrictions as it is an official legal document enacted by the government. This status ensures that the text is freely owned by the public, reinforcing the principle that laws governing the public must be accessible to them without restriction.

### Enactment and Official Identification
The statute was officially approved on **October 6, 1961**. The approving authority listed is the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**, with the specific determination method recorded as **promulgation**. The individual responsible for the promulgation was **João Goulart**. The place of publication for this law is recorded as **Brasília**, the federal capital of Brazil.

The law is officially cited as **Lei nº 3969/1961** and carries the full Portuguese title **Lei nº 3969, de 6 de outubro de 1961**. It is indexed in the Brazilian legal system under the LexML Brazil ID: `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-10-06;3969`. The authoritative text of the law is available digitally at the URL `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3969.htm`. The language of the work is **Brazilian Portuguese**, and it applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil**.

### Subject Matter and Scope
The primary subject matter of Law No. 3969 involves the regulation of **electrical energy**. Specifically, the law addresses the **decision** regarding the **fixation** and **limitation** of **economic value** (valor) associated with this energy sector. The statute explicitly names specific geographical entities within Brazil that are subject to these regulations:

- **Fortaleza:** Identified as a municipality (Município) within the context of the law.
- **Ceará:** The state (Estado Do Ceara) where Fortaleza is located.
- **Rio Grande do Norte:** The state (Estado Do Rio Grande Do Norte) also included in the scope of the regulation.

By focusing on these specific subjects, the law functions as a targeted economic instrument, setting the parameters for the value of electrical energy in the mentioned regions.

### Jurisdictional Context: The Federative Republic of Brazil
As a federal statute, Law No. 3969 operates within the legal and geographic framework of the **Federative Republic of Brazil**. Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth-largest nation in the world by area, spanning approximately 8.5 million km². It is a federal republic with a presidential system and representative democracy, where Portuguese serves as the official language. 

The country declared independence from Portugal on September 7, 1822, and operates under a Constitution promulgated on October 5, 1988. The legislative body responsible for the broader context of such laws is the National Congress of Brazil, composed of the Federal Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. 

During the time of Law No. 3969's enactment in 1961, the federal capital was **Brasília** (which had been inaugurated on April 22, 1960, replacing Rio de Janeiro). The law was enacted during a period when Brazil was transitioning politically, eventually experiencing a military coup in 1964. The promulgator of this specific law, João Goulart, was a central figure in Brazilian politics during this era, serving as President.

Brazil's legal and administrative structure includes 26 states and one Federal District. The states specifically mentioned in this law—Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte—are located in the Northeast region of the country. This region is characterized by distinct economic and demographic features. The law reflects the federal government's authority to intervene in economic sectors (like electrical energy) that cross state lines or require national standardization, even when applied to specific municipalities or states.

### Global Standardization and Data Integration
Law No. 3969 is integrated into global knowledge organization systems. As a statute, it is modeled in semantic web technologies as an equivalent class to `https://schema.org/Legislation`. The entity is tracked within the **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, indicating its importance in the documentation of Brazilian legal history on platforms like Wikipedia and Wikidata.

The statute's identifiers allow for cross-referencing in major library systems. While this specific law has its own LexML ID, the concept of the "statute" itself is heavily indexed globally (Library of Congress ID `sh85127611`, GND ID `4020660-9`). This ensures that Law No. 3969 is not only a domestic legal instrument but also part of the structured web of legal data, facilitating research and automated analysis of Brazilian legislation.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-10-06;3969)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3969&ano=1961&data=06/10/1961&ato=3a2QTQU5keVRVT1ec)