# Law No. 4007 of December 16, 1961 > Brazilian law **Wikidata**: [Q105648081](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648081) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-4007-of-december-16-1961 ## Summary Law No. 4007 of December 16, 1961, is a Brazilian statute enacted during the government of President João Goulart. It primarily addresses special budgetary adjustments for the Ministry of Transport, authorizing extraordinary expenditures for public infrastructure projects. As a formal written law, it exemplifies Brazil’s legislative process under its 1946 Constitution, which governed the country until 1968. ## Key Facts - **Enactment Date:** December 16, 1961. - **Approved By:** President João Goulart (promulgated during his term). - **Jurisdiction:** Federative Republic of Brazil. - **Main Subject:** Special budgetary adjustments for the Ministry of Transport (Ministério da Viação e Obras Públicas). - **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 4007/1961. - **Publication:** Officially published in Brasília, with the full text available via the Planalto Government Portal. - **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese. - **LexML Identifier:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-12-16;4007. - **Focus Area:** Public infrastructure funding and fiscal policy. - **Historical Context:** Enacted during Brazil’s Fourth Republic (1946–1964), preceding the 1964 military coup. ## FAQs **What is the primary purpose of Law No. 4007?** The law authorizes special budgetary allocations for the Ministry of Transport, enabling extraordinary expenditures for public infrastructure initiatives during Brazil’s Fourth Republic era. **Who approved Law No. 4007?** The law was promulgated by President João Goulart on December 16, 1961, as part of his executive authority under the 1946 Constitution. **How does this law relate to Brazil’s legislative framework?** It reflects the fiscal and infrastructure policies of the early 1960s, addressing budgetary mechanisms for state-led development projects, a hallmark of Brazil’s economic strategy at the time. **Is the law still in effect?** While the law’s specific provisions may have been superseded by later legislation, its historical role in shaping Brazil’s public finance and infrastructure governance remains relevant for legal and academic study. ## Why It Matters Law No. 4007 is significant for its role in Brazil’s mid-20th-century infrastructure development and fiscal policy. It highlights the government’s strategic focus on transportation networks during a period of rapid industrialization and urbanization. The law also underscores the constitutional framework of the Fourth Republic, illustrating how executive authority and legislative processes interacted to address national priorities. For historians and legal scholars, it provides insight into the economic governance mechanisms that preceded Brazil’s military dictatorship, offering a window into the political economy of the era. ## Notable For - **Infrastructure Focus:** Directly tied to Brazil’s mid-20th-century push to expand transportation infrastructure, critical for economic growth. - **Budgetary Mechanism:** Demonstrates the use of special credit allocations (créditos especiais) as a fiscal tool for state-driven development. - **Historical Context:** Enacted during the politically tumultuous Fourth Republic, reflecting the legislative priorities of João Goulart’s administration. - **Legal Structure:** Adheres to Brazil’s statutory norms, including promulgation procedures and publication requirements for federal laws. ## Body ### Legislative History and Context Law No. 4007 was enacted on December 16, 1961, during the presidency of João Goulart, a period marked by political instability and economic challenges. The law emerged from Brazil’s Fourth Republic (1946–1964), a democratic regime that preceded the 1964 military coup. It aligns with the 1946 Constitution, which established a presidential system and outlined procedures for federal legislation. The statute’s focus on budgetary adjustments for the Ministry of Transport underscores the era’s emphasis on state-led infrastructure development to drive industrialization and modernization. ### Provisions and Scope The law’s primary function was to authorize special budgetary credits (créditos especiais) for the Ministry of Transport and Public Works. These funds were earmarked for extraordinary expenditures related to public infrastructure projects, including road networks, railways, and ports. By enabling flexible fiscal allocations, the law aimed to accelerate transportation development, a critical component of Brazil’s growth strategy during the 1950s and 1960s. The provisions reflect the government’s interventionist economic policies, which prioritized large-scale projects to integrate the national territory and support industrial expansion. ### Legal and Fiscal Framework As a federal statute, Law No. 4007 adhered to Brazil’s hierarchical legal structure, ranking below the Constitution but above regulatory decrees. Its enactment followed standard legislative procedures, including approval by the National Congress and presidential promulgation. The law’s reliance on special budgetary mechanisms highlights the flexibility built into Brazil’s fiscal system to address urgent or strategic needs. This approach contrasted with ordinary budgetary processes, emphasizing the government’s capacity to respond to developmental priorities through targeted financial instruments. ### Related Entities and Impact The law directly involved the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, a key agency in Brazil’s infrastructure agenda. Its implementation would have influenced projects overseen by this ministry, contributing to the expansion of transportation networks essential for trade and regional integration. While the immediate impact of Law No. 4007 was fiscal and sectoral, its long-term significance lies in its contribution to Brazil’s infrastructure base, which supported economic growth despite later political disruptions. The law also exemplifies the legislative strategies employed during the Fourth Republic to balance fiscal discipline with developmental ambitions. ### Accessibility and Legacy The statute’s text is preserved in Brazil’s legal databases, including the LexML system (urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-12-16;4007), and is accessible via the Planalto Government Portal. This digital availability ensures its accessibility for legal research and historical analysis. Law No. 4007 remains a reference point for scholars examining Brazil’s mid-20th-century legislative practices, fiscal policies, and infrastructure governance. Its legacy is intertwined with broader narratives of state capacity, economic nationalism, and the role of public investment in shaping Brazil’s modern infrastructure landscape. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-12-16;4007) 2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=4007&ano=1961&data=16/12/1961&ato=620ATVU5keVRVT7e9)