# Law No. 4159 of November 30, 1962

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648418](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648418)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-4159-of-november-30-1962

## Summary
Law No. 4159 of November 30, 1962 is a Brazilian statute enacted to authorize special budgetary adjustments and structural changes for federal universities. Promulgated by President João Goulart, the law specifically targets educational and financial administration within the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Minas Gerais. It functions as a formal legal instrument of the Federative Republic of Brazil, facilitating the incorporation of institutions under the Ministry of Education.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 4159, de 30 de novembro de 1962
- **Promulgation Date:** November 30, 1962
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil; President João Goulart
- **Legal Classification:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília
- **Primary Subjects:** Federal University, Special Budgetary Adjustment (Crédito Especial), Ministry of Education (MEC), Incorporation
- **Affected States:** Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1962-11-30;4159`
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 4159/1962
- **Wikimedia Project Focus:** WikiProject Brazilian Laws
- **Source URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4159.htm

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 4159/1962?**
The law focuses on the administration of federal universities and the authorization of "Crédito Especial" (special budgetary adjustments). It specifically addresses the incorporation of entities within the Ministry of Education's purview in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Minas Gerais.

**Who signed Law No. 4159/1962 into force?**
The statute was approved and promulgated by João Goulart, the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil at the time, on November 30, 1962.

**Where is the full text of this law available?**
The official text is accessible online via the Brazilian government's Planalto website at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4159.htm.

**How is this law formally identified in Brazilian legal systems?**
It bears the legal citation "Lei nº 4159/1962" and is indexed in the LexML Brazil system with the unique identifier "urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1962-11-30;4159".

## Why It Matters
Law No. 4159 of November 30, 1962, matters as a specific instrument of federal policy during the presidency of João Goulart, reflecting the government's direct intervention in higher education structure and financing. By authorizing "special budgetary adjustments" (Crédito Especial), the law allowed for financial flexibility to address specific needs within the federal university system. Its focus on the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Minas Gerais highlights regional developmental priorities within the national educational strategy. Furthermore, as a statute, it represents the tangible manifestation of statutory law, ensuring that governmental changes to university incorporation and budget are formally documented, legally binding, and publicly accessible.

## Notable For
- **Presidential Context:** Enacted by President João Goulart, a significant figure in Brazilian political history.
- **Financial Mechanism:** Utilization of "Crédito Especial" for targeted funding outside the standard budget.
- **Educational Administration:** Direct involvement of the Ministry of Education (MEC) in structural changes.
- **Regional Specificity:** Specific legal provisions targeting the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Minas Gerais.
- **Statutory Classification:** Serves as a concrete example of a "statute" — a formal written document creating law as defined by legal ontology.

## Body

### Legislative Definition and Classification
Law No. 4159/1962 is formally classified as a **statute**. In legal ontology, a statute is a formal written document that creates law, encompassing acts, executive orders, and by-laws. It serves as the physical manifestation of statutory law and contains legal norms. As an instance of a legal act, its creation was caused by legislation, and it applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil**. The document is written in **Brazilian Portuguese** and is considered public domain under standard "edict of government doctrine," which holds that official legal documents are not subject to copyright.

### Enactment and Historical Context
The statute was officially promulgated on **November 30, 1962**. The act of approval was performed by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**, specifically by **João Goulart**. The determination method for this law was "promulgation," signifying its formal proclamation and execution. The place of publication recorded for this legislation is **Brasília**. This law is a part of the broader body of Brazilian legislation and is monitored by the **WikiProject Brazilian Laws** on Wikimedia platforms.

### Core Subjects and Scope
The law addresses several interconnected main subjects, defining its scope and application:
- **Federal University:** The primary institutional focus of the law.
- **Special Budgetary Adjustment (Crédito Especial):** A specific financial authorization included in the law's provisions.
- **Ministry of Education (MEC):** The federal body responsible for the execution and oversight of the law's provisions.
- **Incorporation:** The law deals with the integration or structural consolidation of entities.
- **State Application:** The specific provisions are tied to the states of **Rio Grande do Sul** and **Minas Gerais**, indicating a targeted geographic application of the federal university and budgetary measures.

### Identifiers and Official Access
To facilitate indexing and retrieval in legal databases, Law No. 4159/1962 is associated with several specific identifiers:
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1962-11-30;4159`
- **Legal Citation:** `Lei nº 4159/1962`
- **Official URL:** The work is available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4159.htm` as confirmed by the Presidency's legislative records.

The data regarding this law is sourced from the official LexML gateway and the Presidency of Brazil's legislative portal, with reference dates as recent as 2021.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1962-11-30;4159)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=4159&ano=1962&data=30/11/1962&ato=bacETRE5kMVRVT74b)