# Law No. 4255 of September 9, 1963

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105647886](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105647886)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-4255-of-september-9-1963

## Summary

Law No. 4255 of September 9, 1963 (Lei nº 4255/1963) is a Brazilian federal statute that authorizes the donation of a piece of land located in the municipality of Cacequi, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, to the Sociedade Cultural de Cacequi (Cultural Society of Cacequi). Promulgated by President João Goulart on September 9, 1963, this law represents a specific instance of legislative action at the federal level to support local cultural development in a municipality within Brazil's southern region.

## Key Facts

- **Official Title:** Lei nº 4255, de 9 de setembro de 1963
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 4255/1963
- **Country:** Brazil
- **Date of Promulgation:** September 9, 1963
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **President:** João Goulart (at the time of promulgation)
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (federal law)
- **Instance Of:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **LEXML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1963-09-09;4255
- **Subject Matter:** Authorization for land donation
- **Beneficiary:** Sociedade Cultural de Cacequi (Cultural Society of Cacequi)
- **Location of Land:** Cacequi, Rio Grande do Sul (municipality in southern Brazil)
- **Available Online:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4255.htm

## FAQs

**What does Law No. 4255 of September 9, 1963 do?**

Law No. 4255/1963 authorizes the federal government to donate a piece of land (terreno) located in the municipality of Cacequi, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, to the Sociedade Cultural de Cacequi (Cultural Society of Cacequi). The law was specifically designed to facilitate the construction of facilities for cultural purposes.

**Who promulgated Law No. 4255/1963?**

The law was promulgated by President João Goulart, who served as President of Brazil from 1961 to 1964. The law was signed on September 9, 1963, during a period of significant political transition in Brazilian history.

**Where was Law No. 4255/1963 published?**

The law was published in Brasília, which has served as Brazil's capital since 1960. Prior to 1960, Rio de Janeiro was the capital city. The law was officially recorded in the federal legislative database and is available through the Presidency's legislation portal.

**What type of law is Lei nº 4255/1963?**

Lei nº 4255/1963 is classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law. In the Brazilian legal system, a "lei" (law) is a legislative act passed by the National Congress and promulgated by the President. It represents an exercise of statutory law, which is distinct from other sources of law such as regulations, contracts, or judicial decisions.

**What is Cacequi, and why is this law significant to the municipality?**

Cacequi is a municipality located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil. Law No. 4255/1963 is significant because it represents a specific federal intervention to support local cultural development through the donation of public land for the construction of facilities that would serve the community's cultural needs.

**Is Law No. 4255/1963 still in effect?**

The source material does not provide information about the current legal status of this law. As a federal statute, it would remain in effect unless explicitly revoked, superseded by subsequent legislation, or declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Federal Court (STF).

## Why It Matters

Law No. 4255 of September 9, 1963 matters for several reasons, both within the context of Brazilian legal history and as an example of federal-local governmental cooperation in Brazil's developmental history.

First, this law exemplifies a particular approach to cultural policy that was prevalent during the early 1960s in Brazil. Rather than relying solely on municipal or state resources, the federal government utilized its authority to transfer land assets to support cultural institutions in smaller municipalities. This approach reflected a broader philosophy of using federal resources to promote cultural development across Brazil's diverse regions, particularly in areas that might otherwise lack the infrastructure to support cultural activities.

Second, the law represents a concrete example of how Brazilian federalism operates in practice. The statute authorized the donation of land—a property asset that would have been under federal jurisdiction—to a local cultural organization. This type of intervention demonstrates the interconnected nature of different levels of government in Brazil and how federal legislation can directly impact local communities.

Third, the timing of this law is historically significant. Promulgated in 1963, it came during a complex period in Brazilian political history, just before the military coup of 1964 that would usher in over two decades of military rule. Understanding laws from this period provides insight into the legislative priorities and governance approaches of the Goulart administration, which sought to address social and cultural development through various legislative measures.

Finally, the law serves as a historical record of the relationship between the federal government and cultural organizations in Brazil. The Sociedade Cultural de Cacequi was established to promote cultural activities in a relatively small municipality in Rio Grande do Sul, and the federal government's decision to donate land for its activities reflects an acknowledgment of the importance of cultural infrastructure even in smaller communities.

## Notable For

- **Specific Federal Intervention:** One of many federal statutes authorizing land donations to support local cultural development in Brazil during the early 1960s.
- **Presidential Promulgation:** Directly promulgated by President João Goulart, reflecting the executive branch's role in the legislative process for specific local matters.
- **Cultural Development Focus:** Represents the intersection of federal legislative authority and cultural policy, supporting the establishment of cultural infrastructure outside major urban centers.
- **Historical Documentation:** Provides a snapshot of how Brazilian federalism operated to support municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul during the early 1960s.
- **Accessible Legal Text:** The full text of the law remains publicly available through the official government portal, maintaining transparency in the legal framework governing land donation.

## Body

### Legislative Context and Nature

Law No. 4255 of September 9, 1963 is classified as a statute within the Brazilian legal system. A statute, as defined in legal taxonomy, is a formal written document that creates law, encompassing acts, executive orders, and by-laws. In Brazil, a "lei" (law) is the primary form of legislation, requiring passage by the National Congress (Congresso Nacional) and promulgation by the President of the Republic. This particular law falls under the category of federal legislation, applying to the entire territory of Brazil, though its practical effects are localized to the municipality of Cacequi in Rio Grande do Sul.

The law's classification as a statute places it within the broader framework of statutory law, which represents one of the primary sources of law in the Brazilian legal system. Unlike regulations issued by executive branch agencies or judicial decisions from courts, statutes are created through the legislative process defined in the Federal Constitution. Law No. 4255/1963 exemplifies how this legislative process can result in highly specific legal instruments addressing particular local needs.

### Historical Background

The law was promulgated on September 9, 1963, during the administration of President João Goulart. Goulart served as President of Brazil from 1961 to 1964, a period characterized by significant political, social, and economic transformations in the country. His presidency, which began after the resignation of Jânio Quadros and continued through a period of intense political polarization, focused on various reform initiatives, including land reform, cultural development, and economic modernization.

The early 1960s represented a period of heightened attention to regional development in Brazil. The federal government, under Goulart's leadership, pursued policies aimed at addressing regional inequalities and promoting development outside the major urban centers of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. In this context, supporting cultural infrastructure in municipalities like Cacequi represented one facet of a broader approach to national development that sought to distribute resources and opportunities more broadly across Brazil's territory.

### Geographic and Institutional Context

The law specifically addresses the municipality of Cacequi, located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Cacequi is situated in the southern region of Brazil, an area characterized by its strong agricultural tradition, European immigrant heritage, and distinct cultural identity within the broader Brazilian context. The municipality, like many smaller municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul, has historically relied on a combination of agricultural activities and small-scale commerce.

The beneficiary of the land donation authorized by this law is the Sociedade Cultural de Cacequi (Cultural Society of Cacequi). This organization represents the type of civil society institution that emerged in municipalities throughout Brazil during the mid-twentieth century—organizations dedicated to promoting cultural activities, education, and community development. Such societies often served as centers for artistic expression, educational programming, and community gatherings, particularly in municipalities where formal cultural infrastructure was limited.

The law's focus on facilitating construction (construção) through the donation of land (doação de terreno) reflects a common approach to supporting such organizations. By providing the physical space necessary for cultural activities, the federal government enabled the Cultural Society of Cacequi to establish a permanent presence in the community—a foundation upon which cultural programming could be developed and sustained.

### Legal Framework and Authority

The law operates within Brazil's complex legal framework governing property and public administration. Federal laws authorizing the donation of public property require specific legislative authorization because such donations involve the transfer of assets that belong to the federal government—and by extension, to the Brazilian people—to private or non-federal entities. The legislative process ensures that such transfers are reviewed and approved through the democratic process, with representation from the National Congress.

The law's reference to "municipio" (municipality) as one of its main subjects reflects the three-tiered structure of Brazilian government: federal, state, and municipal. While Rio Grande do Sul is the state in which Cacequi is located, the law operates at the federal level, demonstrating how federal legislation can intersect with municipal affairs. This interplay between different levels of government is a defining characteristic of Brazilian federalism.

The law's classification also connects to broader legal concepts within the Brazilian system. As a statute, it represents an exercise of legislative power that creates binding legal norms. These norms, once promulgated, become part of the body of statutory law that governs conduct in Brazil and are subject to interpretation and application by courts, administrative agencies, and citizens.

### Publication and Accessibility

Law No. 4255/1963 was published in Brasília, which had become Brazil's new capital in 1960 following the transfer of the federal government from Rio de Janeiro. The move to Brasília represented one of the most significant changes in Brazilian administrative history, and by 1963, the federal government had fully established its operations in the new capital.

The law remains accessible through official government portals, specifically through the Presidency's legislation database (legislacao.presidencia.gov.br) and the official website of the Federal Government (planalto.gov.br). This accessibility reflects Brazil's commitment to maintaining public access to legal texts, consistent with the principle that citizens should have the ability to know and understand the laws that govern them. The availability of the law online also facilitates research into Brazilian legal history and provides a resource for legal practitioners, scholars, and citizens interested in understanding the evolution of Brazilian legislation.

### Relationship to Broader Legal Concepts

This law connects to several broader legal concepts within the Brazilian legal system and international legal taxonomy. As a statute, it is part of the category of formal written documents that create law, a concept recognized in legal systems worldwide. The law's focus on authorization (autorização) and donation (doação) reflects specific legal instruments used to transfer property rights and authorize particular activities.

The law also relates to the concept of legal acts—discrete actions taken by governmental authorities that produce legal effects. The promulgation of Law No. 4255/1963 represents a legal act that produces specific consequences: the authorization of a land donation that would not otherwise be permitted under general legal principles. This demonstrates how legislative authorization can modify the general legal framework to address specific situations.

### Significance for Brazilian Legal History

From the perspective of Brazilian legal history, Law No. 4255/1963 represents one example among thousands of federal laws passed during the early 1960s. While individually may seem narrow in scope, such laws collectively illustrate the range of issues that the federal legislature addressed during this period and the mechanisms through which federal authority was exercised to support various social, economic, and cultural objectives.

The law also provides insight into the administrative and legal practices of the period. The use of federal legislation to authorize specific land donations reflects a particular approach to governance that, while perhaps less common today, was representative of the era's understanding of the federal government's role in supporting local development. Understanding these historical practices provides context for contemporary debates about the appropriate role of different levels of government in addressing local needs.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1963-09-09;4255)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=4255&ano=1963&data=09/09/1963&ato=591MTWq50MVRVT036)
3. LexML Brasil