# Law No. 4344 of June 21, 1964

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105647958](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105647958)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-4344-of-june-21-1964

## Summary
Law No. 4344 of June 21, 1964, is a Brazilian statute enacted during the military government era, primarily establishing a special budgetary adjustment and creating a ministerial position within the Ministry of Finance. It was promulgated by President Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco and remains part of Brazil’s legal framework, addressing administrative and financial governance.

## Key Facts
- **Enactment Date:** June 21, 1964.
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 4.344, de 21 de junho de 1964.
- **Promulgated By:** President Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco.
- **Main Subjects:** Creation of a ministerial position, special budgetary adjustments, and public office competency.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 4.344/1964.
- **Jurisdiction:** Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **LexML ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1964-06-21;4344.
- **Publication Source:** Official Gazette of the Presidency of the Republic.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted under the military regime (1964–1985).

## FAQs
**When was Law No. 4344 enacted and who approved it?**  
Law No. 4344 was enacted on June 21, 1964, and promulgated by President Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco during Brazil’s military dictatorship.

**What were the primary purposes of Law No. 4344?**  
The law established a special budgetary adjustment mechanism and created a ministerial position within the Ministry of Finance to oversee fiscal policies and public office competencies.

**Where can the full text of Law No. 4344 be accessed?**  
The law is publicly available via the Brazilian Presidency’s legal database at [https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4344.htm](https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4344.htm).

**How does Law No. 4344 relate to Brazil’s military government?**  
Enacted shortly after the 1964 coup, the law reflects the military regime’s efforts to centralize economic control and reform administrative structures, aligning with its broader agenda of institutional restructuring.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 4344 is significant as a product of Brazil’s military dictatorship, embodying the regime’s focus on economic stabilization and bureaucratic reorganization. It institutionalized mechanisms for fiscal adjustment and ministerial oversight, influencing Brazil’s public finance framework during a period of authoritarian governance. The law underscores the intersection of political power and economic policy-making in 20th-century Brazil, providing insight into the military government’s strategies to consolidate control over state resources.

## Notable For
- **Military Regime Legislation:** Enacted during the early years of Brazil’s 1964–1985 military dictatorship.
- **Economic Governance:** Introduced special budgetary adjustments to address fiscal challenges.
- **Administrative Reform:** Created a ministerial role to enhance oversight of public finances.
- **Historical Context:** Reflects the military government’s institutional restructuring efforts.

## Body

### Historical Context
Law No. 4344 was enacted on June 21, 1964, just three months after the military coup that overthrew President João Goulart. This legislation emerged during a period of rapid institutional reform under the military regime, which sought to stabilize the economy and centralize governance. President Castelo Branco, the first military leader of the regime, promulgated the law as part of broader efforts to restructure Brazil’s administrative and financial systems.

### Legal Provisions
The law’s primary objectives included:
- **Creation of a Ministerial Position:** Establishing a ministerial role within the Ministry of Finance to oversee fiscal policies and public spending.
- **Special Budgetary Adjustments:** Instituting mechanisms for extraordinary budgetary allocations to address economic instability.
- **Public Office Competency:** Defining the authority and responsibilities of public officials in managing state resources.

### Enactment and Legacy
Promulgated in Brasília, the law was published in the Official Gazette and remains accessible through Brazil’s LexML database (urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1964-06-21;4344). While specific impacts of the law are not detailed in the source material, its enactment aligns with the military government’s pattern of using legislation to enforce economic discipline and bureaucratic control. The law exemplifies the regime’s approach to governance, prioritizing centralized decision-making and fiscal austerity.

### Related Entities
- **President Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco:** The military leader who promulgated the law, marking his administration’s focus on institutional reform.
- **Ministry of Finance of Brazil:** The agency tasked with implementing the law’s provisions, particularly through the newly created ministerial position.
- **Brazilian Military Government (1964–1985):** The broader political context in which the law was enacted, characterized by authoritarian rule and economic interventionism.

### Technical Specifications
- **Language:** The law is written in Brazilian Portuguese, reflecting Brazil’s official language.
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies exclusively to the Federative Republic of Brazil, with no extraterritorial reach.
- **Legal Citation:** Formally cited as Lei nº 4.344/1964 in Brazilian legal documents.

### Accessibility
The full text of the law is preserved in Brazil’s national legal database, ensuring public access. This transparency complies with Brazil’s constitutional principles, even though the law itself was enacted under a non-democratic regime. Its availability underscores the continuity of legal documentation in Brazil, regardless of governmental shifts.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1964-06-21;4344)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=4344&ano=1964&data=21/06/1964&ato=ec5ATQ65UNVRVT556)
3. LexML Brasil