# Law No. 4737 of July 15, 1965

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649893](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649893)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-4737-of-july-15-1965

## Summary
Law No. 4737 of July 15, 1965 is a Brazilian federal statute that instituted the national Electoral Code. Promulgated on July 15, 1965, by President Castelo Branco, the law serves as the formal written document establishing regulations for political parties and elections in Brazil. It remains the foundational legal text governing the country's electoral system.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 4737, de 15 de julho de 1965.
- **Primary Function:** Institui o Código Eleitoral (Institutes the Electoral Code).
- **Date of Enactment:** July 15, 1965.
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil (President Castelo Branco).
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil.
- **Legal Classification:** Statute (a formal written document that creates law).
- **Main Subject:** Political party (Partido Politico).
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 4737/1965.
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1965-07-15;4737.
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l4737.htm.
- **WikiProject Coverage:** Listed on the focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws.

## FAQs
**What is the main purpose of Law No. 4737/1965?**
The primary purpose of Law No. 4737 is to institute the Brazilian Electoral Code, which governs the rules and regulations regarding political parties and electoral processes within the country.

**Who enacted Law No. 4737?**
The law was promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The specific determination method was promulgation by President Castelo Branco on July 15, 1965.

**Where can the official text of Law No. 4737 be found?**
The official work is available at the URL https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l4737.htm. It is also identified in legal databases by the Lexml ID urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1965-07-15;4737.

**How is this law classified in legal terms?**
Law No. 4737 is classified as a statute. In legal taxonomy, a statute is defined as a formal written document that creates law and serves as a manifestation of statutory law.

**Is Law No. 4737 subject to copyright?**
As a statute, Law No. 4737 is a formal written document creating law and is generally considered to be in the public domain in jurisdictions like the United States under the "edict of government doctrine."

## Why It Matters
Law No. 4737 matters because it established the enduring legal framework for democracy in Brazil through the institution of the Electoral Code. By defining the regulations for political parties and elections, the statute provides the concrete, written rules necessary for the functioning of Brazil's representative democracy. As a statute, it serves as the definitive, tangible manifestation of statutory law that courts, administrators, and political entities must follow. Its status as a public domain document ensures that these critical legal rules are accessible to the public, reinforcing transparency and the rule of law within the Brazilian Federal Republic.

## Notable For
- **Instituting the Electoral Code:** The law's defining characteristic is its role in establishing the "Código Eleitoral," the comprehensive set of rules for elections in Brazil.
- **Promulgation by Castelo Branco:** It was enacted during the presidency of Castelo Branco, a specific historical context marked by the military government era (1964–1985).
- **Standardized Legal Citation:** It is formally cited as "Lei nº 4737/1965" and is cataloged in official legal repositories like Lexml.
- **Centralization in Brasília:** The law was published in Brasília, the federal capital, reflecting the centralized nature of federal legislative authority in Brazil.

## Body

### Legal Definition and Scope
Law No. 4737 of July 15, 1965 is formally titled *Lei nº 4737, de 15 de julho de 1965*. It is a **statute**, a category defined as a formal written document that creates law. As a statute, it functions as a subclass of a "written work" and "document," serving as the official manifestation of statutory law. The law is distinct in that it is not merely an abstract concept but a concrete legal act caused by legislation. Its specific scope is defined by its digest: "INSTITUI O CODIGO ELEITORAL" (Institutes the Electoral Code). Consequently, the main subject of the text is the "political party" (*Partido Politico*), establishing it as the governing authority for political organization and electoral procedures in Brazil.

### Legislative Context and Approval
The law was created and enacted within the jurisdiction of **Brazil**, a federal republic and the largest country in South America. The legislative process culminated on **July 15, 1965**, with the approval by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The specific determination method recorded for this approval was **promulgation**. The historical record identifies **Castelo Branco** as the President associated with this approval at that point in time. The place of publication is listed as **Brasília**, the capital of Brazil since 1960, reinforcing the federal nature of the statute. The law applies to the jurisdiction of Brazil and is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**, the country's official language.

### Publication and Identification
The statute is widely accessible through official and digital channels. It was assigned the **Lexml Brazil ID** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1965-07-15;4737`, which serves as a standardized identifier for the legislation within Brazilian legal databases. The work is available online at the official URL `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l4737.htm`. In legal citations, it is commonly referred to as **Lei nº 4737/1965**. The document is tracked by knowledge organization systems, including the **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, indicating its significance in the corpus of Brazilian legislation.

### Classification as a Statute
As an instance of a **statute**, Law No. 4737 shares characteristics with other formal legal documents such as acts, executive orders, and by-laws. It is composed of "legal norms" and serves as a foundational legal concept recognized globally. In terms of copyright and public policy, this statute—like other official government legal documents—is generally treated as being in the **public domain**. This status, supported by the "edict of government doctrine," ensures that the text of the Electoral Code is not subject to copyright restrictions, allowing for unrestricted public access to the laws that govern Brazilian society.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1965-07-15;4737)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=4737&ano=1965&data=15/07/1965&ato=97aEzYq1UeZRVT23c)
3. LexML Brasil