# Law No. 4984 of May 18, 1966

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105647599](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105647599)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-4984-of-may-18-1966

## Summary
Law No. 4984 of May 18, 1966 (Portuguese: *Lei nº 4984, de 18 de maio de 1966*) is a Brazilian statute enacted during the presidency of Castelo Branco. Classified as a formal written document creating law, its main subject is defined as "Alteração" (change), and it applies to the jurisdiction of Brazil. The law was published in Brasília and is available in the Brazilian Portuguese language.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 4984, de 18 de maio de 1966.
- **Classification:** An instance of a "statute," defined as a formal written document that creates law (including acts, executive orders, and by-laws) and serves as a manifestation of statutory law.
- **Enactment Date:** May 18, 1966.
- **Promulgating Authority:** Approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, specifically by President Castelo Branco via promulgation.
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies to the country of Brazil.
- **Main Subject:** "Alteração" (Change).
- **Language:** Written in Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 4984/1966.
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1966-05-18;4984.
- **Online Access:** Available at the official Planalto government website (https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4984.htm).
- **Project Involvement:** On the focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws.
- **Copyright Status:** As a statute/edict of government, it is generally in the public domain in jurisdictions like the United States and France.

## FAQs
**Who approved Law No. 4984?**
The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. It was specifically promulgated by President Castelo Branco on May 18, 1966.

**What is the legal classification of this document?**
It is classified as a "statute," which is a formal written document that creates law. This category encompasses acts, executive orders, and by-laws, and acts as the concrete manifestation of statutory law.

**Where can the full text of the law be found?**
The full text is available online via the official Brazilian government portal at the Planalto website (https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4984.htm). It carries the Lexml Brazil ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1966-05-18;4984`.

**What is the subject matter of Law No. 4984?**
According to its structured data, the main subject of the law is "Alteração," which translates to "change" or "amendment." This typically indicates the law was enacted to modify existing legal provisions.

**Is Law No. 4984 copyrighted?**
No, as a statute and an official edict of government, it is in the public domain. This is consistent with legal standards in many jurisdictions, such as the "edict of government doctrine" in the United States, ensuring public access to laws.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 4984 of May 18, 1966, represents a specific exercise of legislative authority within Brazil, functioning as a tangible manifestation of statutory law. Enacted under the military dictatorship era government of President Castelo Branco, the law is a formal instrument of "change," indicating its role in modifying or amending the existing legal framework of the period. As a statute, it embodies the core principles of legal documentation: it is a written, accessible rule that contributes to the body of statutory law governing the nation. Its existence on the official Planalto website and its cataloging under systems like Lexml Brazil ensure it remains a part of the accessible, permanent legal record, serving as a primary source for legal historians and researchers studying Brazilian legislation of the 1960s.

## Notable For
- **Instance of a Statute:** Represents the formal class of legal documents known as statutes, which are the primary vehicles for creating written law.
- **Public Domain Status:** As an edict of government, it is not subject to copyright, ensuring unrestricted public access to its contents.
- **Lexml Integration:** Assigned a specific Lexml Brazil ID (`urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1966-05-18;4984`), integrating it into Brazil's standardized legal identifier system.
- **Historical Enactment:** Promulgated in 1966 by President Castelo Branco, placing it within a specific historical context of Brazilian executive-legislative action.
- **Web Ontology:** As a statute, it is equivalent to the `https://schema.org/Legislation` class used in structured data on the web.

## Body

### Definition and Classification
Law No. 4984 of May 18, 1966, is an **instance of a statute**. In legal and knowledge systems, a statute is defined as a formal written document that creates law. This classification places the law within a broad category that also includes acts, executive orders, and by-laws. As a statute, it functions as a "manifestation of statutory law," meaning it is the physical or formal expression of a legal rule. Structurally, it is considered a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule," distinguishing it from broader concepts like "legislation" or abstract "law." Its creation is attributed to the process of "legislation" or a "legal act."

### Historical and Political Context
The law was officially approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil** on May 18, 1966. The promulgation was carried out by **Castelo Branco**, who served as the determining authority. This places the law within the political context of the mid-1960s in Brazil. It was published in **Brasília**, the federal capital of Brazil, a city that had been established as the capital in 1960. The law's main subject is listed as **"Alteração" (Change)**, indicating its purpose was to amend, alter, or change existing legal norms or documents.

### Official Identification and Access
The law is identified by several official codes and is accessible through government databases.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 4984/1966.
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1966-05-18;4984`. This URN provides a standardized, unique identifier for the legal resource within the Brazilian legal information system.
- **Online Availability:** The work is available at the official government URL: `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4984.htm`, hosted by the Civil House of the Presidency.
- **Language:** The text is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**.
- **WikiProject Status:** It is on the focus list of **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, indicating it is a subject of interest for documentation and knowledge organization projects on platforms like Wikidata.

### Jurisdiction and Copyright
The law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil** and is recognized as a national statute. As a legal document, it falls under the principle that official legal documents are **in the public domain**. This principle, often referred to as the "edict of government doctrine" (notably in the United States), dictates that judicial opinions, administrative rulings, legislative enactments, and public ordinances are not copyrightable. This ensures that the law is freely owned and accessible by the public.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1966-05-18;4984)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=4984&ano=1966&data=18/05/1966&ato=6cfETRE9EMZRVT55e)