# Law No. 4139 of September 21, 1962 > Brazilian law **Wikidata**: [Q105648387](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648387) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-4139-of-september-21-1962 ## Summary Law No. 4139 of September 21, 1962 is a Brazilian federal statute promulgated by President João Goulart. This legal document addresses subjects including nonprofit organizations, the state of Bahia, municipalities, and grants, serving as a formal written enactment of statutory law within the Federative Republic of Brazil. ## Key Facts - **Official Title:** Lei nº 4139, de 21 de setembro de 1962. - **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 4139/1962. - **Date of Publication and Approval:** September 21, 1962. - **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. - **Promulgating Authority:** João Goulart (determination method: promulgation). - **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (Federal). - **Place of Publication:** Brasília. - **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese. - **Classification:** Instance of a statute (a formal written document that creates law). - **Main Subjects:** Nonprofit organization (stated as "Instituição Assistencial"), Bahia (stated as "Estado Da Bahia"), municipality (stated as "Municipio"), and grant (stated as "Subvenção"). - **LexML ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1962-09-21;4139. - **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4139.htm. - **WikiProject:** Listed on the focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws. - **Copyright Status:** In the public domain (per the edict of government doctrine applicable to statutes). ## FAQs **What type of legal document is Law No. 4139?** It is a statute, which is defined as a formal written document that creates law. As a subclass of "written work" and "document," it functions as the official record of legal rules enacted by the government. **Who authorized Law No. 4139?** The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. It was specifically promulgated by João Goulart on September 21, 1962. **What specific topics does Law No. 4139 cover?** The law's main subjects include nonprofit organizations (specifically termed "Instituição Assistencial"), the state of Bahia, municipalities, and grants (referred to as "Subvenção"). **Where can the official text of this law be found?** The work is available at the official URL of the Brazilian Presidency (Planalto): https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4139.htm. It is also indexed under the LexML ID urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1962-09-21;4139. **Is Law No. 4139 subject to copyright?** No, like other statutes, it is in the public domain. The "edict of government doctrine" establishes that official legislative enactments are not copyrightable to ensure public access. ## Why It Matters Law No. 4139 matters as it represents a specific instance of Brazilian federal legislation during the early 1960s, specifically under the administration of João Goulart. By addressing the regulation of grants and nonprofit institutions—particularly within the context of the state of Bahia and municipalities—the law plays a role in the structural governance of social assistance and public funding in Brazil. As a statute, it serves as the tangible manifestation of statutory law, providing the enforceable written rules that govern these relationships. Its existence in the public domain ensures that citizens and legal professionals have unrestrained access to these regulatory mandates, reinforcing transparency and the rule of law within the Brazilian legal system. ## Notable For - **Presidential Context:** Promulgated by João Goulart, a significant figure in Brazilian history during the period leading up to the 1964 coup. - **Specific Regional Focus:** Notably lists the state of Bahia as a main subject, indicating specific regional applicability or relevance within the federal text. - **Subject Matter:** Focuses on "Instituição Assistencial" (Assistance Institutions) and "Subvenção" (Grants), highlighting the government's role in regulating social welfare funding. - **Digital Preservation:** Indexed in the LexML system (urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1962-09-21;4139), ensuring standardized legal metadata and accessibility. - **WikiProject Coverage:** Recognized as a notable entity within the scope of WikiProject Brazilian Laws. ## Body ### Legal Classification and Nature Law No. 4139 is classified as a **statute**, a foundational legal concept defined as a formal written document that creates law. It encompasses the characteristics of an "act" passed by the legislature and serves as the manifestation of statutory law. Structurally, it is composed of legal norms and is distinct from abstract legal theories, serving instead as the definitive reference point for the specific rules it enacts. As a statute, it is taxonomically classified as a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule," and is equivalent to the `https://schema.org/Legislation` class in structured data contexts. ### Legislative History and Enactment The law was enacted on **September 21, 1962**. It was approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**, with the specific determination method recorded as **promulgation**. The sitting President responsible for this promulgation was **João Goulart**. The document was published in **Brasília**, the federal capital of Brazil, which has served as the seat of government since 1960. This places the law within the historical context of the Fourth Brazilian Republic (1946–1964), specifically during the Goulart administration. ### Content and Scope The primary subjects of Law No. 4139 provide insight into its regulatory scope: * **Nonprofit Organizations:** The law addresses "Instituição Assistencial" (Assistance Institutions), indicating a focus on the legal framework governing charitable or social assistance entities. * **State of Bahia:** It explicitly mentions "Estado Da Bahia," suggesting the legislation contains provisions specifically applicable to this northeastern Brazilian state. * **Municipalities:** The subject of "Municipio" is included, implying the law affects local government administrations or their interactions with other entities. * **Grants:** The term "Subvenção" (Grant/Subvention) is a central theme, pointing to the regulation of financial transfers or aid provided by the government to organizations or other governmental bodies. ### Jurisdiction and Language The law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil**, the largest country in South America and a federal republic. The official language of the work, as is standard for Brazilian federal statutes, is **Brazilian Portuguese**. The text operates within the Brazilian legal system, which is governed by the Constitution (promulgated in 1988, though this law predates it) and interpreted by the Supreme Federal Court. ### Technical Identifiers and Access To ensure precise identification and retrieval, Law No. 4139 is associated with several technical identifiers: * **LexML ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1962-09-21;4139` * **Legal Citation:** `Lei nº 4139/1962` * **Official URL:** Hosted on the Planalto Palace website (`https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4139.htm`), the official source for federal legislation in Brazil. The document is also tracked within the Wikimedia ecosystem, specifically on the focus list of **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, facilitating its documentation and coverage on platforms like Wikipedia. ### Copyright Status As a statute, Law No. 4139 is in the **public domain**. Under the "edict of government doctrine" applicable in jurisdictions like the United States and France, official legal documents—including legislative enactments—are not subject to copyright. This status ensures that the text of the law is freely owned by the public, allowing unrestrained access, reproduction, and distribution to ensure citizens can be informed of the laws governing them. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1962-09-21;4139) 2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=4139&ano=1962&data=21/09/1962&ato=14cEza61kMVRVT2f2)