# Law No. 4240 of June 28, 1963

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105647934](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105647934)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-4240-of-june-28-1963

## Summary
**Law No. 4240 of June 28, 1963** (Portuguese: *Lei nº 4240, de 28 de junho de 1963*) is a Brazilian statute that extends the validity of the country's 1950 Tenancy Law (Lei do Inquilinato). Promulgated by President João Goulart in Brasília, the legislation specifically prorogued the enforcement of Law No. 1,300 until December 31, 1963. It functions as a formal legal instrument within the Federative Republic of Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 4240, de 28 de junho de 1963.
- **Type of Instrument:** Statute (formal written document that creates law).
- **Date of Promulgation:** June 28, 1963.
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil; signed by President João Goulart.
- **Primary Function:** Extends the validity (prorogation) of Law No. 1,300 of December 28, 1950, also known as the "Lei do Inquilinato" (Tenancy Law).
- **Expiration of Extension:** December 31, 1963.
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil.
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 4240/1963.
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1963-06-28;4240`.
- **Official URL:** Available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4240.htm`.
- **Wikimedia Project:** Listed on WikiProject Brazilian Laws.

## FAQs
**What specific legal action did Law No. 4240/1963 take?**
The law extended the validity of a previous piece of legislation, Law No. 1,300 of December 28, 1950 (the Tenancy Law), ensuring its enforcement remained active until December 31, 1963.

**Who signed Law No. 4240 into force?**
The law was promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, specifically under the administration of President João Goulart, on June 28, 1963.

**Where is the official text of this law hosted?**
The official text is accessible via the Brazilian government's Planalto website at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4240.htm` and is indexed under the LexML Brazil identifier system.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 4240 of June 28, 1963, serves as a specific example of legislative "prorogation"—the act of extending the duration of a law—within the Brazilian legal system. By extending the "Lei do Inquilinato" (Tenancy Law) of 1950, it maintained crucial regulatory frameworks for landlord-tenant relations during a volatile period in Brazilian history (the early 1960s). As a statute, it represents the primary method by which government authority is exercised and recorded, serving as the concrete manifestation of statutory law. Its existence illustrates the continuity of legal norms in Brazil, bridging the gap between the original 1950 legislation and subsequent regulatory updates.

## Notable For
- **Extension of the "Lei do Inquilinato":** Specifically extended Law No. 1,300, the foundational tenancy law of 1950.
- **João Goulart Era:** A legal instrument promulgated during the presidency of João Goulart, shortly before the 1964 Brazilian coup d'état.
- **Legislative Prorogation:** Classified explicitly under the legal concepts of "Prorogation" (Prorrogação) and "Validity" (Vigencia).
- **Capital Context:** Promulgated in Brasília, which had recently become the federal capital in 1960.

## Body

### Legislative Content and Scope
Law No. 4240 is a statutory instrument designed to alter the temporal validity of existing legislation. Its sole objective, as recorded in the law digest, is to extend the enforcement of **Law No. 1,300 of December 28, 1950**, until **December 31, 1963**. Law No. 1,300 is identified as the "Lei do Inquilinato," governing tenancy and rental properties. By enacting Law No. 4240, the Brazilian government effectively prevented the expiration or lapse of these tenancy regulations, ensuring legal continuity for the remainder of the 1963 calendar year.

### Statutory Classification
Law No. 4240 is classified as a **statute**. In legal theory, a statute is a formal written document that creates law, acting as a manifestation of statutory law. It is distinct from abstract legal theories, serving as the tangible record of rules enacted by the government.
- **Structure:** As a statute, it is composed of legal norms and is considered a subclass of "written work" and "document."
- **Public Domain:** Like other statutes in Brazil and jurisdictions such as the United States and France, it is an official legal document (edict of government) and is not subject to copyright, ensuring public accessibility.

### Provenance and Authority
The law was created through the legislative process of the **Federative Republic of Brazil**.
- **Promulgation:** It was approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil** on **June 28, 1963**.
- **Head of State:** The promulgation occurred under the leadership of **João Goulart**, who served as President of Brazil.
- **Location:** The law was published in **Brasília**, the federal capital of Brazil (which had been inaugurated as the capital in 1960, replacing Rio de Janeiro).

### Jurisdiction and Language
The instrument applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil**, the largest country in South America.
- **Language:** The text is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**, the official language of the country.
- **Cultural Context:** Brazil operates as a federal republic with a civil law system heavily influenced by Portuguese legal traditions. This law is a product of that system, created during the republican period.

### Identification and Access
The law is indexed and accessible through modern digital archives:
- **LexML Brazil ID:** The standard identifier for this law is `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1963-06-28;4240`.
- **Digital Access:** The full text is archived on the official government portal of the Presidency of the Republic (Planalto), ensuring permanent public access.
- **WikiProject:** It is tracked within **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, a collaborative effort to structure and organize information on Brazilian legislation in open knowledge bases.

### Related Concepts
- **Main Subjects:** The law is tagged with the legal concepts of **Prorogation** (extension of time), **Validity** (legal force), and **Change** (alteration of status).
- **Related Laws:** It is directly linked to **Law No. 1,300 of December 28, 1950**, which it modifies by extension.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1963-06-28;4240)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=4240&ano=1963&data=28/06/1963&ato=8f0kXVq50MVRVT597)
3. LexML Brasil