# Law No. 437 of October 16, 1948

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649797](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649797)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-437-of-october-16-1948

## Summary
Law No. 437 of October 16, 1948 is a Brazilian statute that modifies prior legislation by altering the wording of articles 1 and 2 and revoking article 7 of Decree-Law No. 9,825 from September 10, 1946. Approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, this law addresses legal subjects including subordination, competency, the authority of the President of Brazil, and matters concerning the "rest of the world" (exterior). It is a formal legal document published in Rio de Janeiro in Brazilian Portuguese.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 437, de 16 de outubro de 1948.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 437/1948.
- **Date of Approval/Promulgation:** October 16, 1948.
- **Publication Date:** October 16, 1948.
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Legislative Action:** Alters the wording of articles 1 and 2 and revokes article 7 of Decree-Law 9,825 (September 10, 1946).
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Classification:** Instance of a statute (a formal written document that creates law).
- **Main Subjects:** Subordination, Competency, President of Brazil, Rest of the world (Exterior).
- **LexML ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1948-10-16;437.
- **WikiProject:** Listed on the focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws.

## FAQs
**What specific legislation does Law No. 437/1948 modify?**
This law specifically targets Decree-Law No. 9,825, which was enacted on September 10, 1946. It alters the text of articles 1 and 2 of that decree-law and formally revokes its article 7.

**Who enacted Law No. 437 of October 16, 1948?**
The statute was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The approval was executed through the method of promulgation on October 16, 1948.

**What are the primary legal topics addressed in this law?**
The main subjects identified within the text include "subordination" (Subordinação), "competency" (Competencia), the "President of Brazil" (Presidente Da Republica), and the "rest of the world" (Exterior).

**Where was this law published and in what language?**
The place of publication is recorded as Rio de Janeiro, which was the capital of Brazil at the time. The document is written in Brazilian Portuguese.

**How is this law identified in legal databases?**
It is uniquely identified by the LexML Brazil ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1948-10-16;437` and is commonly cited as "Lei nº 437/1948."

## Why It Matters
Law No. 437 of 1948 matters as a distinct legislative instrument that refined the Brazilian legal framework by updating and correcting prior executive orders (Decree-Law 9,825). By addressing specific articles related to subordination and competency, it played a role in defining the administrative powers of the President of Brazil and the state's interaction with foreign entities ("the rest of the world"). As a statute, it represents the formal, written manifestation of statutory law, serving as the definitive record of these legal changes. Its preservation in systems like LexML and its inclusion in WikiProject Brazilian Laws ensures that these mid-20th-century legal adjustments remain accessible and verifiable, supporting the principle of open government and the rule of law.

## Notable For
- **Specific Legislative Amendment:** Notable for precisely targeting and altering Decree-Law 9,825 from 1946, demonstrating the legislative process of refining earlier executive decrees.
- **Subject Scope:** Uniquely combines administrative topics (subordination, competency) with geopolitical scope ("rest of the world" or Exterior) within a single amendment.
- **Historical Context of Publication:** Published in Rio de Janeiro in 1948, reflecting the era prior to the transfer of the federal capital to Brasília.
- **Digital Standardization:** Early adoption of standardized legal identification via the LexML system (`urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1948-10-16;437`).
- **WikiProject Inclusion:** Recognized as a significant entity within the scope of WikiProject Brazilian Laws.

## Body

### Legislative Content and Purpose
Law No. 437 of October 16, 1948 serves a specific corrective and updating function within the Brazilian legal system. Its primary purpose, as stated in its law digest, is to "ALTERA A REDAÇÃO DOS ARTIGOS 1 E 2 E REVOGA O ARTIGO 7 DO DECRETO-LEI 9.825, DE 10 DE SETEMBRO DE 1946." This indicates that the law was not a standalone creation of new policy but rather a modification of an existing executive decree from two years prior. By altering the wording of the first two articles and repealing the seventh, the statute refined the legal definitions and procedures originally established in Decree-Law 9,825.

### Legal Subjects and Scope
The text of the law encompasses several key legal subjects that define its scope and application. These subjects are formally identified as:
- **Subordination (Subordinação):** Relating to hierarchical relationships within the administration or legal framework.
- **Competency (Competencia):** Defining the scope of legal authority or jurisdiction granted to specific bodies or offices.
- **President of Brazil (Presidente Da Republica):** Indicating the law involves the powers, duties, or status of the head of state.
- **Rest of the World (Exterior):** Suggesting the legislation addresses matters related to foreign relations or entities outside the national territory.

### Classification as a Statute
This entity is classified as a **statute**, which is defined as a formal written document that creates law. As a statute, it falls under the broader category of legal concepts and is a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." It functions as the concrete manifestation of statutory law. Like other statutes, it is composed of legal norms and serves as the official record of the rules enacted by the government. In many jurisdictions, including the United States and France, such documents are considered public domain under the "edict of government doctrine," meaning they are not subject to copyright to ensure public access.

### Jurisdiction and Authority
The law operates under the jurisdiction of **Brazil**. It was approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**, with the determination method recorded as "promulgation." This process occurred on **October 16, 1948**. The place of publication is listed as **Rio de Janeiro**. This geographical detail is historically relevant, as Rio de Janeiro served as the federal capital of Brazil until the inauguration of Brasília in 1960. The language of the work is **Brazilian Portuguese**, the official language of the country.

### Identification and Archival Data
For the purposes of legal indexing and retrieval, Law No. 437 is assigned several specific identifiers:
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1948-10-16;437`
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 437/1948
- **WikiProject:** It is included on the focus list of **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, indicating its importance in the documentation of Brazilian legal history.

These identifiers ensure the law can be precisely referenced within digital legal databases and knowledge graphs, distinguishing it from other legislative acts enacted in 1948 or other laws modifying Decree-Law 9,825.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1948-10-16;437)
2. LexML Brasil