# Law No. 4231 of June 7, 1963

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105647820](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105647820)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-4231-of-june-7-1963

## Summary
Law No. 4231 of June 7, 1963, is a Brazilian federal statute enacted under President João Goulart that specifically addresses the prescription period for the right to physical incapacity reform for former army soldier Jorge Lado Ces. It was published in Brasília and is formally cited as Lei nº 4231/1963.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 4231, de 7 de junho de 1963
- **Enactment Date:** June 7, 1963
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President João Goulart (promulgated on 1963-06-07)
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 4231/1963
- **Instance Of:** Statute (a formal written document that creates law)
- **Main Subjects:** Authorization and Army
- **Law Digest:** Concerns the prescription period for physical incapacity reform of former army soldier Jorge Lado Ces
- **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1963-06-07;4231
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil
- **Full Text URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4231.htm
- **Applies To Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Wikidata Description:** Brazilian law
- **Documentation:** Included in WikiProject Brazilian Laws

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 4231/1963?**
The law addresses the prescription period—the legal time limit—for the right to physical incapacity reform (a type of military pension or benefit) for former army soldier Jorge Lado Ces. It specifically deals with authorization related to army matters.

**When was Law No. 4231 enacted and who approved it?**
It was enacted and promulgated on June 7, 1963, by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil during the administration of President João Goulart.

**How is this law formally cited and identified?**
The standard legal citation is "Lei nº 4231/1963." It is uniquely identified in Brazilian legislative databases by the LexML Brazil identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1963-06-07;4231.

**Where can the complete, official text of the law be accessed?**
The full text is publicly available at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4231.htm, hosted on the official legislative portal of the Brazilian presidency (legislacao.presidencia.gov.br).

**What type of legal instrument is Law No. 4231?**
It is a statute, which is a formal written document that creates law. Specifically, it is a federal "lei" (act) passed by the Brazilian National Congress.

**In which language is the law written and for which jurisdiction?**
The law is written in Brazilian Portuguese, the official language of Brazil, and it applies to the entire jurisdiction of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 4231/1963 matters as a concrete example of Brazilian federal legislation addressing individual rights within the military legal framework. It illustrates how statutory law in Brazil handles specific cases of physical incapacity for former soldiers, establishing or clarifying the time limits for claiming related benefits. As a documented statute from the João Goulart presidency, it provides a historical reference point for understanding legal procedures and administrative practices concerning veterans during that era. Its inclusion in WikiProject Brazilian Laws ensures it is preserved and accessible for legal research, historical analysis, and public transparency. The law demonstrates the functioning of Brazil's federal legislative system, where individual laws can target particular circumstances while contributing to the broader body of rules governing military personnel and social security.

## Notable For
- **Case-Specific Focus:** Targets the prescription rights of a named individual (Jorge Lado Ces), making it a private or individual law rather than a general public statute.
- **Historical Administration:** Enacted during the presidency of João Goulart (1961-1964), a period of significant political transition in Brazil preceding the 1964 military coup.
- **Military Law Context:** Falls under the subject of "army," providing insight into legal mechanisms for former military personnel's incapacity claims.
- **Digital Preservation:** Available via a stable URL on the official Brazilian presidency portal (planalto.gov.br), ensuring long-term public access.
- **Structured Identification:** Assigned a unique LexML Brazil URN for unambiguous identification in legal information systems.
- **Project Inclusion:** Recognized and maintained by WikiProject Brazilian Laws, highlighting its relevance for comprehensive legal documentation.

## Body
### Legislative Identity and Enactment
Law No. 4231 of June 7, 1963, is formally titled "Lei nº 4231, de 7 de junho de 1963" in Portuguese. It was enacted on June 7, 1963, through the promulgation process by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The head of state at the time was President João Goulart, whose approval is explicitly linked to this law in the source data. The law's standard legal citation is "Lei nº 4231/1963," and it is assigned the persistent LexML Brazil identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1963-06-07;4231`, which follows a standardized URN format for Brazilian federal legislation.

### Legal Nature and Substantive Content
This law is an **instance of a statute**, meaning it is a formal written document that creates law. Within the Brazilian legal system, it is a federal "lei" (act) passed by the National Congress. The law's **main subjects** are "authorization" and "army," indicating its focus on permissions or entitlements within a military context. The **law digest** provides a concise summary of its substantive content: "RELEVA A PRESCRIÇÃO EM QUE INCORREU O DIREITO A REFORMA, POR INCAPACIDADE FISICA, DO EX-SOLDADO DO EXERCITO JORGE LADO CES." This translates to: "RAISES THE PRESCRIPTION PERIOD THAT HAS ELAPSED FOR THE RIGHT TO REFORM, DUE TO PHYSICAL INCAPACITY, OF THE FORMER ARMY SOLDIER JORGE LADO CES." The core legal issue is the **prescription period**—the statutory time limit—for a former soldier to claim a "reforma" (a military pension or disability benefit) based on physical incapacity. The law appears to modify or clarify this time limit for the specific individual named.

### Publication and Official Access
The law was **published in Brasília**, the capital city of Brazil since April 22, 1960. Brasília's role as the seat of government makes it the standard place of publication for federal laws. The **complete official text** is available online at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4231.htm`. This URL is part of the `planalto.gov.br` domain, which hosts the consolidated legislation of Brazil under the presidency's legislative directorate, ensuring authoritative access.

### Jurisdictional and Linguistic Scope
The law **applies to the jurisdiction of Brazil**, the largest country in South America and a federal republic. As a federal statute, it was enacted by the national Congress and holds authority across all Brazilian states and the Federal District. The **language of the law is Brazilian Portuguese**, the sole official language of Brazil. This linguistic uniformity is essential for consistent legal interpretation and application throughout the country's territory.

### Documentation and Knowledge Base Context
Law No. 4231/1963 is **documented within WikiProject Brazilian Laws** on Wikimedia platforms. This inclusion signifies its recognition as a notable piece of Brazilian legislation that meets the project's notability guidelines for systematic documentation and improvement. The project aims to create and maintain comprehensive coverage of Brazilian laws in open knowledge bases, aiding researchers, citizens, and legal professionals. The law's presence there is supported by its structured data properties, including its LexML ID and official URL.

### Relationship to Brazilian Legal Framework
As a **statute**, this law is part of Brazil's **statutory law** system. Statutes are the primary written source of law in Brazil, created through the legislative process (here, by the National Congress and approved by the Presidency). It functions as a **manifestation of statutory law** on a specific topic. The law's focus on "prescription" relates to civil law concepts of time limits for legal actions, while its subject "army" ties it to the legal regime governing military personnel. Its existence as a **federal law** reflects Brazil's federal structure, where the national government legislates on matters of national defense and military organization.

### Historical and Administrative Context
The law was promulgated in **1963**, during the final phase of President João Goulart's term (1961-1964). This period was marked by political polarization and social reforms, culminating in the 1964 military coup. The fact that the law is titled as a "Lei" and approved directly by the Presidency suggests it may be a **private law** (lei individual), a common type in Brazil that addresses specific persons or entities rather than the general public. Such laws often deal with individual rights, such as military benefits or civil claims, which aligns with this law's focus on a former soldier's incapacity claim. The law's publication in the official gazette (Diário Oficial da União) and subsequent archiving on the presidency's website are standard procedures for giving it legal force and ensuring accessibility.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1963-06-07;4231)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=4231&ano=1963&data=07/06/1963&ato=0dbcXUq50MVRVTc3c)
3. LexML Brasil