# Law No. 4120 of August 27, 1962

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648289](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648289)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-4120-of-august-27-1962

## Summary
Law No. 4120 of August 27, 1962, officially known as **Lei nº 4120**, is a Brazilian federal statute enacted during the presidency of João Goulart to regulate budget execution for the 1962 fiscal year. Promulgated in Brasília on August 27, 1962, this law was created to implement the financial budget of the Federal Government of Brazil (União Federal) in accordance with Article 5 of Law 3.994 of December 9, 1961.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 4120, de 27 de agosto de 1962
- **Alternative Name:** Lei nº 4120/1962
- **Entity Type:** Statute (formal written document creating law)
- **Date of Promulgation:** August 27, 1962
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, under President João Goulart
- **Jurisdiction:** Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Federal District
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Primary Subject:** Budget execution (Orçamento)
- **Secondary Subjects:** Fiscal Year (Exercicio Financeiro), Federal Government of Brazil (União Federal), Execution (Execução)
- **Legal Basis:** Enacted pursuant to Article 5 of Law 3.994 of December 9, 1961
- **Official Digest:** "DISPÕE SOBRE A EXECUÇÃO ORÇAMENTARIA NO EXERCICIO FINANCEIRO DE 1962, NOS TERMOS DO ARTIGO 5 DA LEI 3.994 DE 9 DE DEZEMBRO DE 1961" (Provides for budget execution in the 1962 fiscal year, under the terms of Article 5 of Law 3.994 of December 9, 1961)
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1962-08-27;4120
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4120.htm
- **Wikidata Project:** Listed on WikiProject Brazilian Laws

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 4120/1962?**
The law's sole purpose was to establish the rules and framework for the execution of the federal government's budget during the 1962 fiscal year, as mandated by a prior law (Law 3.994 of 1961).

**Who signed Law No. 4120 into force?**
The statute was promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, with President João Goulart serving as the head of state at the time of its enactment on August 27, 1962.

**What legal precedent does this law reference?**
Law No. 4120 explicitly derives its authority from and functions within the terms set out in Article 5 of Law 3.994, which was enacted on December 9, 1961.

**Where can the official text of this law be accessed?**
The official text of Law No. 4120 is publicly available through the Brazilian government's official portal at the Planalto Presidential Palace website and is indexed under the Lexml Brazil system with the URN identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1962-08-27;4120`.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 4120 of August 27, 1962, serves as a critical example of routine yet essential financial legislation within the Brazilian legal system. As a statute (instance_of: statute), it represents the concrete written manifestation of the government's authority to collect and spend public funds. Its significance lies in its function as an implementation tool for the annual federal budget, ensuring that the executive branch operates within legally defined financial parameters during a specific fiscal cycle.

The law is particularly notable for its direct connection to the political context of its time, having been signed by President João Goulart. It illustrates the legislative process in Brazil, where specific budget execution laws are required to operationalize broader fiscal policies. By governing the "Orçamento" (Budget) and "Exercicio Financeiro" (Fiscal Year) for the "União Federal" (Federal Union), it directly impacted the administration of federal resources. As a public domain document accessible via the official government portal, it also exemplifies the principles of transparency and open government, allowing citizens and legal professionals to scrutinize historical fiscal regulations.

## Notable For
- **Legal Classification:** Categorized as a "statute," a formal written document that creates law, distinct from general legal concepts.
- **Specific Fiscal Mandate:** Explicitly designed to execute the 1962 budget, a narrow and time-bound application of legislative power.
- **Goulart Era Legislation:** Represents a legal instrument from the presidency of João Goulart, a pivotal figure in Brazilian political history.
- **Derivative Authority:** Directly implements a provision (Article 5) from Law 3.994, demonstrating the hierarchical nature of Brazilian statutory law.
- **Official Digital Presence:** Maintained on the Planalto government website and indexed in the Lexml system, ensuring its preservation and accessibility as part of Brazil's official legal record.
- **Jurisdictional Scope:** Applies directly to the entire Federative Republic of Brazil, governing federal-level fiscal operations.

## Body

### Nature and Classification
Law No. 4120 is classified as a **statute**. In legal taxonomy, a statute is a formal written document that creates law, encompassing acts, executive orders, and by-laws. It is a manifestation of statutory law and serves as a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." This law functions as a legal act caused by legislation and is composed of legal norms. Its existence is a direct result of the legislative process, formally recorded as a government edict.

### Historical and Political Context
The law was promulgated on **August 27, 1962**, in **Brasília**, the federal capital of Brazil. The approving authority was the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**, and it was enacted under the leadership of President **João Goulart**. This period in Brazilian history, the early 1960s, was marked by significant political and economic challenges, and fiscal laws like No. 4120 were essential for maintaining government operations.

### Purpose and Legal Basis
The primary and explicitly stated purpose of Law No. 4120 is defined in its official digest: "DISPÕE SOBRE A EXECUÇÃO ORÇAMENTARIA NO EXERCICIO FINANCEIRO DE 1962, NOS TERMOS DO ARTIGO 5 DA LEI 3.994 DE 9 DE DEZEMBRO DE 1961."

In plain terms, this law provides for the **execution of the budget** (Orçamento) during the **fiscal year of 1962** (Exercicio Financeiro). It is not a standalone budget act but rather a law enabling the execution of the budget in compliance with **Article 5 of Law 3.994**, which had been passed on **December 9, 1961**. This linkage shows it as an implementation measure following broader fiscal planning.

### Subject Matter and Jurisdiction
The law's subject matter is categorized under several key headings:
- **Main Subject:** Budget (Orçamento)
- **Secondary Subjects:** Fiscal Year (Exercicio Financeiro), Federal Government of Brazil (União Federal), and Execution (Execução).

Its jurisdiction is the **Federative Republic of Brazil**, meaning it applies to federal-level finances and administration across the country. The law is written and published in **Brazilian Portuguese**.

### Official Identification and Accessibility
Law No. 4120 is assigned a unique and permanent identifier within Brazil's legal information system:
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1962-08-27;4120`
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 4120/1962

The official text of the law is publicly accessible online. The **work available at URL** is hosted by the Brazilian government's official executive portal:
- **Official URL:** `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4120.htm`

This accessibility aligns with the principle that statutes, as government edicts, are generally in the public domain. The law is also cataloged within collaborative knowledge projects, specifically listed on **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, indicating its recognition as a notable legal entity for documentation and study.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1962-08-27;4120)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=4120&ano=1962&data=27/08/1962&ato=825IzY61kMVRVTa6f)
3. LexML Brasil