# Law No. 4244 of July 20, 1963

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105647867](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105647867)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-4244-of-july-20-1963

## Summary

Law No. 4244 of July 20, 1963 (Lei nº 4244/1963) is a Brazilian federal statute that establishes norms for the receipt of budgetary funds and credits of the Labor Courts (Justiça do Trabalho). Promulgated by President João Goulart on July 20, 1963, this law governs budget appropriation procedures and credit management within Brazil's labor justice system. It remains accessible through the official government portal and represents a specific legal instrument regulating financial matters related to the Labor Court jurisdiction.

## Key Facts

- **Official Title:** Lei nº 4244, de 20 de julho de 1963
- **Publication Date:** July 20, 1963
- **Promulgating Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **President:** João Goulart (at time of promulgation)
- **Country:** Brazil
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (applies to the entire federation)
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Legal Classification:** Statute (instance of "statute" class)
- **LEXML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1963-07-20;4244
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 4244/1963
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4244.htm
- **Main Subjects:** Credit, budget appropriation, Labor Court (Justiça do Trabalho), receiving (recebimento), legal norms

## FAQs

**What is the purpose of Law No. 4244 of July 20, 1963?**

Law No. 4244 of July 20, 1963 establishes norms for the receipt of budgetary funds and credits of the Labor Courts (Justiça do Trabalho). It specifically regulates how budgetary appropriations and credits should be received and managed within Brazil's labor justice system, ensuring proper financial procedures for the judiciary branch handling labor disputes.

**Who promulgated Law No. 4244/1963?**

The law was promulgated by President João Goulart, who served as President of Brazil from 1961 to 1964. The determination method was formal promulgation, which occurred on July 20, 1963, making it part of the federal legislation enacted during the early 1960s period of Brazilian history.

**What jurisdiction does Law No. 4244 apply to?**

Law No. 4244 applies to the entire territory of Brazil as a federal statute. As a law of the Federative Republic of Brazil, it governs matters related to the Labor Courts (Justiça do Trabalho), which are specialized courts that handle labor and employment disputes between employees and employers.

**What is the subject matter of this law?**

The law's subject matter encompasses several key areas: credit (créditos), budget appropriation (dotação orçamentária), the Labor Court system (Justiça do Trabalho), procedures for receiving funds (recebimento), and the establishment of legal norms (normas). These subjects collectively relate to the financial administration and budgetary processes of Brazil's labor judiciary.

**Where can Law No. 4244/1963 be accessed?**

The full text of Law No. 4244 of July 20, 1963 is available through the official Brazilian government portal at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4244.htm. It is also catalogued in the LEXML Brazilian legal database with the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1963-07-20;4244.

**How is Law No. 4244 classified in legal terminology?**

Law No. 4244 is classified as a statute, which is a formal written document that creates law. In the Brazilian legal system, it is categorized as a "lei" (law) enacted by the federal government. It functions as a legal norm within the broader framework of Brazilian legislation governing labor court financial administration.

## Why It Matters

Law No. 4244 of July 20, 1963 matters because it represents a specific legislative intervention in the financial administration of Brazil's Labor Courts. During the early 1960s, Brazil was experiencing significant political and economic challenges, and the establishment of clear norms for budgetary procedures within the judiciary was essential for maintaining the functioning of the justice system. This law provided the legal framework for how the Labor Courts would receive and manage their budgetary allocations, ensuring fiscal accountability and proper resource allocation for the resolution of labor disputes.

The law's significance extends to its role in the Brazilian legal hierarchy as a statute governing institutional matters of the judiciary. Labor Courts in Brazil handle thousands of disputes annually between workers and employers, making their proper funding and administrative functioning critical to the country's labor market and industrial relations. By establishing clear norms for budget reception and credits, Law No. 4244 contributed to the institutional development of Brazil's labor justice system.

Furthermore, this law exemplifies the legislative activity of the João Goulart administration, a period marked by attempts at structural reforms in Brazil. The law remains part of the active federal legislation, demonstrating the continuity of Brazilian legal frameworks and the enduring nature of statutes governing judicial administration. Its continued availability through official government portals reflects Brazil's commitment to maintaining accessible legal records and transparency in governmental operations.

## Notable For

- **Specialized Judicial Administration:** One of the specific federal laws governing the financial procedures of Brazil's Labor Court system
- **Historical Significance:** Enacted during the João Goulart administration (1961-1964), a pivotal period in Brazilian political history
- **Continued Relevance:** Remains accessible and part of Brazil's active legal framework more than six decades after promulgation
- **Official Digital Preservation:** Available through the official Presidential Palace website (planalto.gov.br), demonstrating Brazil's commitment to legal transparency
- **LEXML Integration:** Catalogued in Brazil's official legal XML database, ensuring long-term preservation and accessibility

## Body

### Legislative History and Enactment

Law No. 4244 of July 20, 1963 was enacted during a significant period in Brazilian history. The law was promulgated by President João Goulart, who held office from 1961 to 1964. This era was characterized by intense political debate and attempts at implementing social and economic reforms in Brazil. The law emerged from the federal legislative process and represents a specific statutory intervention in the administration of the judiciary, particularly the specialized Labor Courts that handle employment disputes.

The formal title "Lei nº 4244, de 20 de julho de 1963" reflects the standard Brazilian legislative numbering system, where "Lei" indicates a law enacted by the federal government, "nº 4244" is the sequential number, and the date specifies when the law was formally enacted. The promulgation occurred in Brasília, which had been Brazil's capital since 1960, following the transfer from Rio de Janeiro.

### Legal Classification and Framework

In the Brazilian legal system, Law No. 4244 is classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law. This classification places it within the category of primary legislation enacted by the federal government, as distinguished from secondary legislation such as decrees and regulations. The law functions as a legal norm, establishing binding rules that govern the conduct of public institutions, specifically the financial operations of the Labor Courts.

The law's subject matter encompasses multiple interconnected areas: credit (créditos), which refers to financial credits allocated to institutions; budget appropriation (dotação orçamentária), which concerns the allocation of public funds; the Labor Court system (Justiça do Trabalho), which is the specific judicial branch affected by the law; receiving procedures (recebimento), which establishes how funds should be received; and legal norms (normas), which are the rules establishing the framework for these processes.

### Institutional Context: Labor Courts in Brazil

The Labor Courts (Justiça do Trabalho) constitute a specialized branch of the Brazilian judiciary responsible for resolving disputes between employers and employees. These courts handle cases involving wage disputes, working conditions, employment termination, union matters, and other labor-related conflicts. The proper functioning of these courts is essential to Brazil's labor market, which is one of the largest in Latin America, with millions of formal and informal employment relationships.

Law No. 4244 addresses the financial administration of these courts by establishing norms for the receipt of budgetary funds and credits. This institutional function is critical because the judiciary, including specialized courts, requires stable and properly regulated funding to operate effectively. The law ensures that the Labor Courts have a clear legal framework for receiving and managing their budgetary allocations from the federal government.

### Access and Legal Documentation

Law No. 4244 of July 20, 1963 remains accessible through multiple official channels. The primary source is the Presidential Palace website (planalto.gov.br), specifically at the URL https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4244.htm. This portal provides the complete text of the law and serves as the official repository for federal legislation.

Additionally, the law is catalogued in LEXML, Brazil's official legal database that provides structured legal information in XML format. The LEXML identifier for this law is "urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1963-07-20;4244," which allows for precise referencing and retrieval of the legal text. The standard legal citation "Lei nº 4244/1963" is used in legal documents and scholarly references.

### Relationship to Broader Legal Concepts

Law No. 4244 exists within a broader ecosystem of Brazilian legislation governing public administration and judicial finance. As a statute, it represents the formal expression of legislative will regarding the specific matter of Labor Court budget procedures. The law is part of the federal legal framework that governs how public resources are allocated and managed across Brazil's three branches of government.

The law's classification as a statute also connects it to broader legal concepts in the Brazilian system. Statutes are distinguished from other legal instruments such as constitutional provisions, regulations, and judicial decisions. They represent the primary form of legislation enacted by elected representatives and form the foundation of statutory law (direito statutory) in Brazil.

### Language and Publication

The law was published in Brazilian Portuguese, which is the official language of Brazil. The full title "ESTABELECE NORMAS PARA O RECEBIMENTO DE VERBAS ORÇAMENTARIAS E CREDITO DE VERBAS ORÇAMENTARIAS E CREDITOS DA JUSTIÇA DO TRABALHO" translates to "Establishes norms for the receipt of budgetary funds and credits of the Labor Courts." This Portuguese-language publication reflects the official nature of the legal instrument within Brazil's domestic legal system.

The law's publication in Brasília, the nation's capital since 1960, aligns with the constitutional requirement that federal legislation be formally promulgated in the seat of government. This publication process ensures that laws are properly authenticated and made available to the public through official channels.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1963-07-20;4244)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=4244&ano=1963&data=20/07/1963&ato=8eeITVq50MVRVT04f)
3. LexML Brasil