# Law No. 3977 of November 6, 1961

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105647968](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105647968)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3977-of-november-6-1961

## Summary
**Law No. 3977 of November 6, 1961** (Portuguese: *Lei nº 3.977, de 6 de novembro de 1961*) is a Brazilian federal statute that grants a special pension to João Ignacio da Silva, a former fireman for the Brazilian Tramway Company (*Loide Brasileiro*). Promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under Acting President João Goulart, the law authorizes a monthly payment of Cr 6,000.00. It serves as a specific instance of legislative action classified as a public domain statute applicable to the jurisdiction of Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3.977, de 6 de novembro de 1961.
- **Classification:** Instance of a **statute** (formal written document creating law).
- **Date of Promulgation:** November 6, 1961.
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil.
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Digest / Subject:** "CONCEDE PENSÃO ESPECIAL DE CR 6.000,00 A JOÃO IGNACIO DA SILVA, EX-FOGUISTA DO LOIDE BRASILEIRO" (Grants a special pension of Cr 6,000.00 to João Ignacio da Silva, former fireman of the Brazilian Tramway Company).
- **Authority:** Approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**.
- **Signatory:** **João Goulart** (determination method: promulgation).
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3977/1961.
- **Identifier:** Lexml Brazil ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-11-06;3977`.
- **Availability:** Accessible via the official Planalto Palace website (`https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3977.htm`).
- **WikiProject:** Listed on WikiProject Brazilian Laws.

## FAQs
**What is the specific purpose of Law No. 3977?**
This law mandates the granting of a special pension to a specific individual, João Ignacio da Silva. It cites his former occupation as a fireman for the Brazilian Tramway Company (*Loide Brasileiro*) and sets the pension amount at Cr 6,000.00.

**Who authorized and signed this law?**
The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. It was promulgated on November 6, 1961, by João Goulart, who was serving in the presidency at that time.

**Is Law No. 3977 copyright protected?**
No. As a statute, it falls under the "edict of government doctrine" and is generally considered part of the **public domain** in Brazil and jurisdictions like the United States, meaning it is not subject to copyright restrictions.

**Where can the official text of this law be found?**
The law is available for consultation at the official Portal of the Presidency of the Republic (`planalto.gov.br`) under the Civil House section. It is also indexed under the Lexml Brazil network with the identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-11-06;3977`.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3977 of November 6, 1961, represents a specific exercise of legislative power in Brazil, demonstrating the capacity of the federal government to enact statutes that address individual administrative benefits, such as special pensions. As a *statute*, it serves as a manifestation of statutory law—a formal, written document that creates a legal rule. It holds significance for researchers and citizens as part of the official public record, ensuring transparency and access to legal history. Furthermore, its existence highlights the role of the Presidency, specifically under João Goulart, in the legislative process during the early 1960s. Like all statutes, it is a fundamental building block of the legal system, distinguishable from general legal concepts by its specific, written, and enforceable nature.

## Notable For
- **Individual Beneficiary:** Uniquely targets a single citizen, João Ignacio da Silva, recognizing his service as a "foguista" (fireman/stoker) for the *Loide Brasileiro* transport company.
- **Historical Authority:** Represents a legislative act promulgated by **João Goulart**, a prominent figure in Brazilian political history.
- **Public Accessibility:** Notable for its explicit status as a public domain document, ensuring unrestricted public access to the legal text.
- **Jurisdictional Scope:** Applies specifically to the **Federative Republic of Brazil**.
- **Standardized Identification:** Cited as a prime example of structured legal data within the WikiProject Brazilian Laws and Lexml network.

## Body

### Legislative Content and Digest
Law No. 3977 of November 6, 1961, is categorized as a **statute**, defined formally as a written document that creates law. The specific content of this law, as recorded in its digest, is to **"CONCEDE PENSÃO ESPECIAL DE CR 6.000,00 A JOÃO IGNACIO DA SILVA, EX-FOGUISTA DO LOIDE BRASILEIRO."**

This act establishes a financial benefit (special pension) for João Ignacio da Silva. The text explicitly links the benefit to his past employment as a fireman (*foguista*) for the *Loide Brasileiro*, a Brazilian tram or transport entity. The value of the pension is fixed at **Cr 6,000.00** (Cruzeiros).

### Promulgation and Authority
The law was officially promulgated on **November 6, 1961**, in **Brasília**, the capital of Brazil. The act of approval is attributed to the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**.

The determination method for this law was **promulgation**, a formal act by the executive branch that validates the law's existence and orders its execution. The authority associated with this act is **João Goulart**, who was the acting President of Brazil at the time.

### Legal Classification and Nature
As an entity, Law No. 3977 is an **instance of a statute**. It shares the fundamental characteristics of this class:
- **Form:** It is a formal written document.
- **Function:** It creates a legal norm (specifically, the granting of a pension).
- **Public Domain Status:** As an edict of government, the text of the law is in the public domain, ensuring it is not subject to copyright restrictions in the United States, France, or Brazil.
- **Equivalence:** In structured data contexts, it corresponds to the `https://schema.org/Legislation` class.

The law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil** and is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**.

### Digital Access and Identifiers
The law is preserved in digital and structured formats to ensure accessibility and legal citation:
- **Official URL:** The full text is hosted by the Civil House of the Presidency of the Republic at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3977.htm`.
- **Lexml ID:** It is indexed in the Brazilian Legal Information system (Lexml) with the unique identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-11-06;3977`.
- **Citation:** The standard legal citation for this document is **Lei nº 3977/1961**.
- **WikiProject:** The entity is tracked within **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, indicating its inclusion in structured knowledge bases regarding Brazilian legislation.

### Related Entities
- **Jurisdiction:** The law originates from and applies to **Brazil**, a country in South America established as a sovereign state in 1822.
- **Authority:** The law was enacted during the tenure of **João Goulart**.
- **Subject:** The primary subjects of the law are "Pensão Especial" (Special Pension) and "Concessão" (Grant/Concession).

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-11-06;3977)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3977&ano=1961&data=06/11/1961&ato=952MTRU5keVRVTf94)
3. LexML Brasil