# Law No. 4223 of May 10, 1963

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648470](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648470)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-4223-of-may-10-1963

## Summary
Law No. 4223 of May 10, 1963, is a Brazilian federal statute enacted during the presidency of João Goulart that authorizes the Federal Government to exchange real property located in the municipality of Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul. This legislative act specifically facilitates the replacement (permuta) of federal land with municipal assets within the state of Rio Grande do Sul. It serves as a formal written document creating a specific legal norm regarding the administration of public real estate in Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 4223, de 10 de maio de 1963.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 4223/1963.
- **Publication Date:** May 10, 1963.
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil.
- **Country of Origin:** Brazil.
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies to the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Instance Of:** Statute (a formal written document that creates law).
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Promulgated By:** João Goulart (on May 10, 1963).
- **Main Subject:** Authorization for the exchange of real property between the Federal Government (União Federal) and the Municipality of Canoas.
- **Specific Location:** Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul (RS).
- **Legal Action:** Replacement (Permuta) of real estate (Imovel/Terreno).
- **LexML ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1963-05-10;4223.
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4223.htm.
- **Executive Branch Involvement:** The law pertains to the actions of the Executive branch regarding federal assets.

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 4223/1963?**
The law grants authorization to the Federal Government to engage in a property exchange, specifically swapping federal real estate for municipal property located in Canoas. It legally validates the transfer of ownership rights between the Union and the municipality of Canoas in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

**Who was the head of state when this law was enacted?**
The statute was approved and promulgated by João Goulart, who served as the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil at the time. The act was finalized on May 10, 1963, under his administration.

**Which specific geographic areas does this law affect?**
The legislation is geographically limited to the municipality of Canoas, situated within the state of Rio Grande do Sul. It addresses real property (terreno/imovel) specifically located in this southern Brazilian state.

**How is this law classified within the Brazilian legal system?**
It is classified as a federal statute, which is a formal written document that creates law and functions as a manifestation of statutory law. As an official legislative enactment, it falls under the broader category of acts passed by the legislature and is considered a "legal norm."

**Where can the full text of this statute be accessed?**
The official text is available online via the Planalto government portal at the specific URL for laws between 1950 and 1969. It is also indexed in the LexML Brazil system under the unique identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1963-05-10;4223.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 4223 of May 10, 1963, is significant as a concrete example of how the Brazilian federal government manages its real estate assets through legislative authorization. By explicitly permitting the exchange of property with the municipality of Canoas, the law resolves specific administrative needs regarding land ownership and usage in Rio Grande do Sul. It demonstrates the operational mechanism of the "permuta" (exchange) process, ensuring that the transfer of public assets is conducted with clear legal backing and executive oversight. This statute reinforces the rule of law by documenting the specific authorization required for the Executive branch to alter the composition of federal property holdings. Furthermore, as a public domain document, it ensures transparency in government asset management, allowing citizens and legal professionals to verify the legal basis for property transfers in the region.

## Notable For
- **Specific Property Exchange:** It is distinct for authorizing a direct swap of real property between the Federal Government and the municipality of Canoas.
- **João Goulart Era:** It represents legislative activity during the presidency of João Goulart in 1963, a period of significant political transition in Brazil.
- **Regional Focus:** The law is notable for its specific application to the state of Rio Grande do Sul, rather than being a nationwide general regulation.
- **LexML Standardization:** It is indexed with a standardized URN (urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1963-05-10;4223), facilitating digital access and citation in the Brazilian legal ecosystem.
- **Executive Authorization:** It serves as a specific instance where the Executive branch's power to manage federal assets was formally codified by the legislature for a single transaction.

## Body

### Legislative Identity and Classification
Law No. 4223 of May 10, 1963, is formally classified as a **statute**, which is defined as a formal written document that creates law. In the Brazilian legal taxonomy, it is an instance of a federal act, encompassing the characteristics of a "legal term" and a "legal concept." As a statute, it functions as the physical manifestation of statutory law, distinct from the broader abstract concept of "law." The document was created through the process of legislation, following the drafting of laws and resulting in a binding legal norm. It is part of the broader category of "legal acts" and serves as an official record of the rules enacted by the Brazilian government. The law is written in Brazilian Portuguese and applies exclusively to the jurisdiction of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

### Historical Context and Enactment
The statute was enacted on **May 10, 1963**, a date that marks its official publication in Brasília. At the time of its approval, the head of state was **João Goulart**, who served as the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The law was promulgated by the Presidency, indicating the executive branch's formal acceptance and implementation of the legislative text. This period in Brazilian history, under Goulart's administration, saw various legislative efforts to manage federal resources and administrative structures. The law was published in the official government records and is accessible through the Presidency's legislative portal, confirming its validity and historical standing within the 1950–1969 legislative period.

### Subject Matter and Legal Scope
The primary subject of Law No. 4223 is the **authorization** for the **Federal Government of Brazil** (stated as "União Federal") to engage in a **replacement** or exchange of **real property**. The specific transaction involves the municipality of **Canoas**, located in the state of **Rio Grande do Sul**. The law addresses the legal status of a specific **terreno** (plot of land) and facilitates the **permuta** (exchange) between federal and municipal entities. This legislative act is narrowly focused on the administrative transfer of assets rather than establishing broad social or economic policies. It explicitly involves the **executive branch** in the execution of this property swap, ensuring that the transfer of ownership is legally sanctioned. The law serves as the definitive legal instrument allowing the government to alter its real estate portfolio in this specific location.

### Administrative and Digital Identifiers
To ensure precise identification and retrieval, the law is assigned several unique identifiers across Brazilian and international systems. The **LexML Brazil** system assigns it the Uniform Resource Name (URN): `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1963-05-10;4223`. This standard allows for unambiguous citation in digital legal databases. The law is also cataloged with the legal citation **Lei nº 4223/1963**. For digital access, the full text is hosted on the official Planalto website at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4223.htm`. These identifiers link the statute to the broader **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, ensuring its inclusion in structured knowledge graphs and Wikimedia projects. The document is recognized as a "Brazilian law" in Wikidata descriptions, linking it to the broader entity of the Brazilian legal system.

### Geographic and Jurisdictional Application
The jurisdiction of Law No. 4223 is strictly limited to the **Federative Republic of Brazil**. Within the national territory, its effects are localized to the **State of Rio Grande do Sul** and specifically the **municipality of Canoas**. The law does not apply to other states or municipalities, highlighting its nature as a specific administrative act rather than a general code. The property involved is described as **real property** (imovel) and a **terreno** (land), situated within the boundaries of Canoas. This geographic specificity ensures that the legal exchange is confined to the assets and authorities of the identified local government and the federal administration in that region.

### Relationship to Broader Legal Concepts
As a statute, Law No. 4223 is a subclass of **written work**, **document**, and **rule**. It is causally linked to the act of **legislation** and is preceded by **draft laws**. The document contains **legal norms** as its constituent parts. In the context of intellectual property, like other official legal documents in Brazil, it is generally considered to be in the **public domain**, ensuring that the text is freely accessible to the public without copyright restrictions. This aligns with the "edict of government doctrine" observed in many jurisdictions, where official legislative enactments are not subject to copyright to promote transparency and the rule of law. The law is structurally related to the concepts of **acts**, **executive orders**, and **by-laws**, fitting into the umbrella category of statutes that create binding legal obligations.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1963-05-10;4223)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=4223&ano=1963&data=10/05/1963&ato=475kXTq50MVRVTdec)