# Law No. 4043 of December 21, 1961

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648134](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648134)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-4043-of-december-21-1961

## Summary
Law No. 4043 of December 21, 1961 is a Brazilian statute that grants a special monthly pension of Cr$4,940.00 to Manoel Brito da Silva, a former employee of the Ministry of Agriculture. Enacted during the presidency of João Goulart, it represents a specific legislative act addressing individual compensation within Brazil's federal legal framework.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 4043, de 21 de dezembro de 1961
- **Type:** Statute (formal written document creating law)
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (federal level)
- **Enactment Date:** December 21, 1961
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil (President João Goulart)
- **Main Subject:** Special pension for Manoel Brito da Silva
- **Pension Amount:** Cr$4,940.00 monthly
- **Beneficiary:** Manoel Brito da Silva (former Ministry of Agriculture employee)
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Publication Location:** Brasília, Brazil
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 4043/1961
- **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-12-21;4043
- **Official Text URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4043.htm
- **WikiProject:** WikiProject Brazilian Laws

## FAQs
**What does Law No. 4043 of 1961 actually do?**
This law establishes a special monthly pension of Cr$4,940.00 for Manoel Brito da Silva, a former employee of Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture. It represents a targeted legislative measure to provide financial compensation to a specific individual rather than creating general policy.

**Who approved this law and when?**
The law was promulgated by President João Goulart on December 21, 1961, during his presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The approval process followed standard federal legislative procedures for that era.

**Where can I find the official text of this law?**
The complete legal text is available through multiple official sources, including the Brazilian government's legislation portal (https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4043.htm) and the LexML Brazil database (urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-12-21;4043).

**What makes this law notable in Brazilian legal history?**
While most statutes create general policies, this law is unusual for its highly specific focus on granting benefits to a single named individual. It illustrates how Brazilian legislation can address particular cases through targeted legal instruments.

**How does this law fit into Brazil's broader legal system?**
As a federal statute, it operates within Brazil's civil law tradition and constitutional framework. The law demonstrates the legislative branch's authority to create binding legal norms, even for individual cases, under the 1946 Constitution (which was in effect at the time).

## Why It Matters
Law No. 4043 of 1961 matters as a concrete example of how Brazilian legislation can address specific individual cases through formal statutory means. While most laws create general rules, this statute demonstrates the government's ability to use legislation for targeted compensation, illustrating the flexibility of Brazil's legal system. It also serves as a historical document from the João Goulart presidency, providing insight into the administrative practices of that era. The law's continued availability in official databases ensures transparency and public access to historical legislative decisions.

## Notable For
- **Individual-Specific Legislation:** One of many Brazilian laws targeting benefits to a named individual rather than creating general policy
- **Historical Document:** Represents legislative practices during João Goulart's presidency (1961-1964)
- **Pension Compensation:** Establishes a specific monthly pension amount (Cr$4,940.00) for a former public servant
- **Legal Transparency:** Fully documented in Brazil's official legal databases with persistent identifiers
- **Ministry of Agriculture Connection:** Addresses compensation for a former employee of this specific government ministry

## Body

### Legal Characteristics and Classification
Law No. 4043 of December 21, 1961 is classified as a statute within Brazil's legal system, representing a formal written document that creates law. As an instance of Brazilian legislation, it follows the civil law tradition and operates under the constitutional framework that was in effect during the early 1960s. The law is specifically categorized as a federal statute, meaning it applies nationwide and was enacted by the national government rather than a state or municipal authority.

The statute is formally identified in multiple legal databases:
- LexML Brazil ID: urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-12-21;4043
- Legal citation: Lei nº 4043/1961
- Official publication reference in the Diário Oficial da União

### Legislative Process and Approval
The law completed the Brazilian legislative process and received final approval through promulgation by President João Goulart on December 21, 1961. This approval method is standard for Brazilian legislation, where the president formally enacts laws passed by the National Congress. The promulgation date serves as the official enactment date, making the law legally binding from that point forward.

President João Goulart served as Brazil's 24th president from September 7, 1961, until April 2, 1964. His presidency represented a period of significant political and economic changes in Brazil, and this law was enacted during the early phase of his administration.

### Content and Provisions
The core provision of Law No. 4043/1961 grants a special monthly pension of Cr$4,940.00 (Cruzeiros) to Manoel Brito da Silva. The law specifically identifies the beneficiary by name and establishes the exact monetary amount, demonstrating its targeted nature.

Key elements of the provision include:
- **Beneficiary:** Manoel Brito da Silva (former Ministry of Agriculture employee)
- **Benefit Type:** Special pension
- **Amount:** Cr$4,940.00 monthly
- **Purpose:** Compensation or recognition for service

The law does not specify the duration of the pension or any conditions for its continuation, suggesting it was intended as a permanent benefit unless revoked by subsequent legislation.

### Historical and Administrative Context
This law was enacted during a period when Brazil was operating under its 1946 Constitution, which established the democratic framework following the Vargas era. The Ministry of Agriculture, where the beneficiary had worked, was (and remains) a key government agency responsible for agricultural policy, rural development, and food security.

The early 1960s represented a time of economic challenges and political tensions in Brazil, with inflation being a significant issue. The Cruzeiro (Cr$) was Brazil's currency at the time, and the pension amount of Cr$4,940.00 would have represented a substantial monthly benefit given the economic conditions of that era.

### Documentation and Accessibility
Law No. 4043/1961 maintains comprehensive documentation in Brazil's legal databases, ensuring its accessibility to researchers, legal professionals, and the general public. The official text is available through:

1. **Planalto.gov.br:** The Brazilian government's official legislation portal provides the complete text at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4043.htm
2. **LexML Brazil:** The legal information system assigns it the persistent identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-12-21;4043
3. **Presidency Legislation Database:** The law is cataloged in the federal legislation system with reference code 238AzaU5keVRVT716

These digital preservation efforts ensure that the law remains accessible despite being over six decades old, supporting legal research and historical analysis.

### Relationship to Other Legal Concepts
As a statute, Law No. 4043/1961 represents a specific manifestation of several broader legal concepts:
- **Statutory Law:** The law creates binding legal norms through written legislation
- **Legal Norm:** The pension provision constitutes a specific legal rule
- **Legal Act:** The law results from the legislative process
- **Draft Laws:** The law would have originated from proposed legislation

The statute is classified within knowledge systems as:
- Instance of: statute, legal term, legal concept
- Subclass of: written work, document, rule
- Part of: law, legal act

### Comparative Analysis with Other Statutes
Law No. 4043/1961 belongs to a category of Brazilian legislation that addresses specific individual cases rather than creating general policies. This distinguishes it from:
- **General Policy Laws:** Statutes that establish broad rules affecting entire populations
- **Institutional Laws:** Legislation creating or modifying government agencies
- **Budget Laws:** Annual appropriations legislation

The law's individual-specific nature makes it particularly valuable for understanding how Brazilian legislation can serve as a mechanism for targeted compensation or recognition.

### Preservation and Digital Records
The law's continued presence in multiple official databases demonstrates Brazil's commitment to legal transparency and historical preservation. The digital records include:
- Full text preservation
- Metadata including enactment date, approving authority, and subject matter
- Cross-references to related legal concepts
- Persistent identifiers for citation purposes

This comprehensive documentation supports legal research, historical analysis, and government transparency initiatives.

### Connection to WikiProject Brazilian Laws
Law No. 4043/1961 is included in WikiProject Brazilian Laws, indicating its recognition within the Wikipedia community as a notable piece of Brazilian legislation. This wiki project aims to improve coverage of Brazilian legal topics across Wikipedia's various language editions, ensuring that important statutes receive appropriate documentation and analysis.

The law's inclusion in this project suggests it meets criteria for notability within Brazilian legal history, despite its specific focus on an individual case.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1961-12-21;4043)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=4043&ano=1961&data=21/12/1961&ato=238AzaU5keVRVT716)
3. LexML Brasil