# Law No. 4095 of July 17, 1962

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648315](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648315)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-4095-of-july-17-1962

## Summary
**Law No. 4095 of July 17, 1962** (Portuguese: *Lei nº 4095, de 17 de julho de 1962*) is a Brazilian statute that legally establishes the number of deputies representing states and federal territories within Brazil's legislative framework. Enacted by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President João Goulart, it serves as a formal written manifestation of statutory law applicable to all federative units of Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 4095, de 17 de julho de 1962
- **Classification:** Instance of a **statute** (formal written document creating law).
- **Date of Enactment:** July 17, 1962.
- **Promulgating Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil; signed by President **João Goulart**.
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (applies to all Federative Units).
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília.
- **Primary Subject:** Fixes the number of deputies for States (*Estados*) and Federal Territories (*Territórios Federais*).
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 4095/1962.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1962-07-17;4095`
- **Official URL:** Available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4095.htm`
- **Copyright Status:** As a statute/edict of government, it is in the public domain.

## FAQs
**What is the primary function of Law No. 4095/1962?**
The law's primary function is to determine and fix the specific number of legislative deputies allocated to Brazil's states and federal territories. In legal taxonomies, this is classified as a "decision" regarding the composition of legislative bodies.

**Who approved and enacted this law?**
The statute was enacted by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. It was promulgated on July 17, 1962, with João Goulart serving as the head of state at the time.

**What is the legal classification of this document?**
It is classified as a "statute," which is a formal written document that creates law. Specifically, it is a federal law (Lei) within the Brazilian legal system, distinct from executive orders or by-laws, and acts as a manifestation of statutory law.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 4095 matters because it addresses the structural foundation of Brazilian representative democracy by defining legislative representation. By fixing the number of deputies for states and territories, the statute directly influences the balance of power and voice within the National Congress. Enacted in 1962, a period of significant political turbulence in Brazil just prior to the 1964 military coup, the law represents a specific moment in the evolution of Brazil's electoral and legislative framework. As a public domain legal document, it remains an accessible part of the country's statutory history, ensuring transparency regarding the rules that governed legislative composition during that era.

## Notable For
- **Legislative Structuring:** Specifically targets the allocation of deputies for both states (*Estados*) and federal territories (*Territórios Federais*), a distinction relevant to Brazil's specific federal structure.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during the presidency of João Goulart, a pivotal figure in Brazilian history whose government preceded the military dictatorship established in 1964.
- **Capital Location:** Notable for being published in **Brasília**, which had only recently become the capital of Brazil in 1960, reflecting the shift of political power to the new federal district.
- **Public Accessibility:** Recognized as a public domain document under the "edict of government doctrine," ensuring it is free for public use and distribution without copyright restrictions.

## Body

### Definition and Legal Status
Law No. 4095 of July 17, 1962, is a Brazilian federal statute. In legal ontology, it is an instance of a "statute," defined as a formal written document enacted to create law. As a statute, it serves as a manifestation of statutory law and is composed of legal norms. Its creation was caused by the act of legislation, and it is considered a public domain document because it is an official legal enactment (edict of government) of Brazil.

### Legislative Mandate and Subjects
The core content of Law No. 4095 is summarized by its legal digest: "FIXA O NUMERO DE DEPUTADOS POR ESTADOS E TERRITORIOS E DA OUTRAS PROVIDENCIAS" (Fixes the number of deputies for states and territories and provides other measures). Consequently, the main subjects of the law are:
1.  **Federative Units of Brazil (Estados):** The political entities that make up the federation.
2.  **Federal Territories of Brazil (Territórios Federais):** Administrative divisions distinct from states.
3.  **Decision (Fixação):** The legal act of setting or determining the specific numbers.

### Enactment and Authority
The statute was approved and promulgated by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The enactment date is recorded as July 17, 1962. The head of state associated with this promulgation is **João Goulart**. The law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil** and was published in the capital, **Brasília**.

### Historical and Political Context
The law was enacted in 1962, during a vibrant yet unstable period of Brazilian history known as the Fourth Brazilian Republic (or "Populist Republic"). This era preceded the military coup of 1964. The capital, Brasília, where the law was published, had been inaugurated just two years prior in 1960. The existence of "Federal Territories" as a subject of the law reflects the administrative geography of the time, as several territories existed (such as Amapá, Roraima, and Rio Branco) before achieving statehood in later decades.

### Technical Identifiers and Access
The law is formally identified within the Brazilian legal system by the LexML ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1962-07-17;4095`. It is legally cited as **Lei nº 4095/1962**. The full text is officially archived and accessible via the Planalto Palace's website at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4095.htm`. It is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**.

### Connection to Broader Knowledge Systems
-   **Wikidata:** The entity is tracked with specific structured properties, including country (Brazil), instance of (statute), and publication date.
-   **WikiProject:** It is listed on the "WikiProject Brazilian Laws," indicating its relevance to collaborative knowledge curation regarding Brazilian legislation.
-   **Global Standards:** As a statute, it falls under the `https://schema.org/Legislation` class used for structured data on the web.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1962-07-17;4095)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=4095&ano=1962&data=17/07/1962&ato=803MTU61kMVRVTabb)
3. LexML Brasil