# Law No. 3978 of November 6, 1961

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105647979](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105647979)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3978-of-november-6-1961

## Summary
Law No. 3978 of November 6, 1961 (Lei nº 3978/1961) is a Brazilian statute enacted by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, specifically approved via promulgation by João Goulart. As a formal written document, it functions as a manifestation of statutory law addressing a special budgetary adjustment for the Ministry of Transport of Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3978, de 6 de novembro de 1961.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3978/1961.
- **Date of Enactment:** November 6, 1961.
- **Country:** Brazil.
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (Federal).
- **Classification:** Statute (a formal written document that creates law; subclass of written work, document, and rule).
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Approving Official:** João Goulart (promulgation).
- **Main Subject:** Special budgetary adjustment (stated as "Credito Especial").
- **Specific Ministry:** Ministry of Transport of Brazil (historically stated as "Ministerio Da Viação E Obras Publicas").
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Copyright Status:** Public domain (as an official legal document/edict of government).
- **Digital Identifiers:**
  - LexML Brazil ID: `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-11-06;3978`
  - Work URL: `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3978.htm`
- **WikiProject:** WikiProject Brazilian Laws.

## FAQs
**What specific purpose does Law No. 3978 serve?**
This law authorizes a special budgetary adjustment, formally referred to as "Credito Especial," specifically allocated to the Ministry of Transport of Brazil (referred to in the text as "Ministerio Da Viação E Obras Publicas").

**Who is responsible for enacting Law No. 3978?**
The statute was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The specific determination method was promulgation by João Goulart on November 6, 1961.

**Where can the official text of this law be accessed?**
The document is available at the official URL hosted by the Brazilian government (`https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3978.htm`) and is indexed under the LexML Brazil ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-11-06;3978`.

**Is Law No. 3978 copyrighted?**
No, as a statute, it is a formal written document considered to be in the public domain. Under the edict of government doctrine, official legal documents enacted by the government are not subject to copyright restrictions.

**In what language and location was this law published?**
The law was published in Brasília, the capital of Brazil, and is written in Brazilian Portuguese.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3978 matters as a concrete manifestation of statutory law within the Brazilian legal system, serving as the tangible instrument through which a specific financial adjustment was executed. As a statute, it represents the formal written record required to authorize a "special budgetary adjustment," ensuring that the Ministry of Transport had the necessary legal allocation of funds ("Credito Especial") to fulfill its functions. Its existence underscores the procedural rigor of the Brazilian government, where even specific fiscal modifications must be codified as formal written documents, drafted, promulgated by the Presidency, and published in the official record to become enforceable. Furthermore, its status as a public domain document ensures that this legal mandate remains accessible to the public, reinforcing principles of transparency and open government.

## Notable For
- **Budgetary Authorization:** Specifically noted for creating a special credit for the Ministry of Transport, distinguishing it from general legislation.
- **Promulgation by João Goulart:** Enacted during the presidency of João Goulart via the determination method of promulgation.
- **Legal Classification:** Defined as a "statute," a foundational legal concept classified as a subclass of written work, document, and rule.
- **Digital Standardization:** Notable for its inclusion in the LexML system (`urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-11-06;3978`), ensuring standardized legal identification.
- **Wikimedia Recognition:** Included in the scope of WikiProject Brazilian Laws on Wikimedia projects.

## Body

### Legal Nature and Classification
Law No. 3978 of November 6, 1961 is classified fundamentally as a **statute**. In legal terms, a statute is defined as a formal written document that creates law, serving as the specific manifestation of statutory law. This entity is taxonomically categorized as a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." It acts as the official record of the legal rule enacted by the government, distinct from abstract concepts of legislation. As a statute, it falls under the "edict of government doctrine," meaning it is an official legal document not subject to copyright and is firmly in the public domain.

### Enactment and Authority
The law was enacted on **November 6, 1961**, by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The specific determination method used for its approval was **promulgation** by **João Goulart**. The statute applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil**, the largest country in South America and a federal republic. The place of publication for this legal document was **Brasília**, the capital of Brazil since 1960. The text of the law is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**, the official language of the country.

### Subject Matter and Scope
The primary subject of Law No. 3978 is a **special budgetary adjustment**, stated in the original text as "**Credito Especial**." This financial authorization is specifically directed toward the **Ministry of Transport of Brazil**. The text references the ministry by its historical nomenclature, "**Ministerio Da Viação E Obras Publicas**" (Ministry of Roads and Public Works). This indicates the law's specific function in allocating fiscal resources to the government body responsible for transport infrastructure and public works at that time.

### Identification and Metadata
The law is structured with several key identifiers and metadata points that facilitate its retrieval and citation within legal systems:
- **Legal Citation:** The standard citation format is **Lei nº 3978/1961**.
- **LexML ID:** It is indexed in the Legal XML system as `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-11-06;3978`.
- **Official URL:** The full text is hosted and available for reference at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3978.htm`.
- **WikiProject:** The document is included in the focus list of **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, indicating its relevance in the documentation of Brazilian legal history.

### Context of Statutory Law
As a statute, Law No. 3978 functions as a component of the broader **Brazilian** legal framework. It follows the lifecycle of "draft laws" and is caused by the act of legislation. It is composed of "legal norms" and serves as a definitive reference point for the administration of the specific credit it authorizes. The law exemplifies the characteristics of statutes globally: it is a "real-world equivalent" for classes like `https://schema.org/Legislation` in structured data, and it serves as a critical instrument through which government authority is formally exercised and recorded.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-11-06;3978)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3978&ano=1961&data=06/11/1961&ato=680QTRU5keVRVTf3a)