# Law No. 4985 of May 18, 1966 > Brazilian law **Wikidata**: [Q105647600](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105647600) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-4985-of-may-18-1966 ## Summary Law No. 4985 of May 18, 1966 (Lei nº 4985/1966) is a Brazilian federal statute enacted by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil during the military government under President Castelo Branco. Published in Brasília on May 18, 1966, this law is cataloged in Brazilian legal databases with the LexML identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1966-05-18;4985 and is classified under the main subjects of legislation and revocation. The statute exists as part of Brazil's statutory law framework and is accessible through the official government portal at planalto.gov.br. ## Key Facts - **Official Title:** Lei nº 4985, de 18 de maio de 1966 - **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 4985/1966 - **Enactment Date:** May 18, 1966 - **Promulgating Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil - **President at Time:** Castelo Branco (military government) - **Country of Origin:** Brazil - **Jurisdictional Scope:** Brazil (federal law) - **Place of Publication:** Brasília - **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese - **Instance Of:** Statute (formal written document that creates law) - **Main Subjects:** Legislation; Revocation - **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1966-05-18;4985 - **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4985.htm - **Classification:** Subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule" per knowledge base taxonomy ## FAQs **What type of legal document is Law No. 4985/1966?** Law No. 4985/1966 is classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law, encompassing acts, executive orders, and by-laws. It is a manifestation of statutory law and functions as the official record of a legal rule enacted by the Brazilian federal government. **Who enacted Law No. 4985 of May 18, 1966?** The law was enacted by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. It was promulgated on May 18, 1966, during the military government period led by President Castelo Branco, who served as the de facto leader of Brazil from 1964 to 1967. **What are the main subjects of Law No. 4985/1966?** The statute's main subjects, as cataloged in the LexML Brazilian legal metadata system, are "legislation" and "revocation." This suggests the law may pertain to either the creation of new legal provisions or the revocation of existing legal instruments, though the specific content is not detailed in the available metadata. **Where can Law No. 4985/1966 be accessed?** The full text of the law is available through the official website of the Brazilian Presidency at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4985.htm. It is also indexed in the LexML legal information system with the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1966-05-18;4985. **What is the relationship between Law No. 4985/1966 and Brazilian statutory law?** As a federal statute, Law No. 4985/1966 forms part of Brazil's statutory law framework. It is classified as a "legal norm" and represents a concrete manifestation of statutory law in the Brazilian legal system. The law follows the legislative process and exists as a formal written document that creates, modifies, or extinguishes legal rules within Brazil's jurisdiction. ## Why It Matters Law No. 4985 of May 18, 1966 matters as part of Brazil's legislative history during a significant period in the nation's political development. Enacted during the military government era (1964-1985), this statute represents one of the many legal instruments produced during a time when Brazil underwent substantial political, economic, and social transformations. The law's existence in Brazil's statutory corpus demonstrates the continuity of legislative activity even during periods of military rule, and it contributes to the broader legal framework that governs Brazilian society. The statute's classification with the main subjects of "legislation" and "revocation" suggests it may play a role in the regulatory architecture of Brazil, potentially affecting how other laws are created, interpreted, or repealed. As part of the Brazilian legal system, it contributes to the corpus of statutory law that citizens, businesses, and government entities must navigate. The law's inclusion in official databases and its continued accessibility through government portals underscore its enduring legal relevance. Furthermore, Law No. 4985/1966 exemplifies the structure of Brazilian federal legislation, with its formal citation (Lei nº 4985/1966), publication in Brasília (the capital since 1960), and indexing in national legal information systems. This demonstrates Brazil's commitment to maintaining accessible, organized legal records—a cornerstone of the rule of law and democratic governance. ## Notable For - **Historical Context:** Enacted during Brazil's military government period under President Castelo Branco, representing legislative activity during a pivotal era in Brazilian political history. - **Official Cataloging:** Indexed in LexML (Brazil's legal metadata system) with the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1966-05-18;4985, ensuring long-term discoverability. - **Government Portal Availability:** Remains accessible through the official Presidential website (planalto.gov.br), demonstrating Brazil's commitment to public access to legal texts. - **Federal Scope:** Applies to all of Brazil as a federal statute, distinguishing it from state or municipal legislation. - **Classification as Statute:** Classified as a formal written document creating law, part of the broader category of statutory law that encompasses acts, executive orders, and by-laws. ## Body ### Legal Classification and Nature Law No. 4985 of May 18, 1966 is classified as a statute within the Brazilian legal system. A statute, as defined in knowledge bases, is a formal written document that creates law, including acts, executive orders, and by-laws. This classification places the law within the category of statutory law—legal rules formally enacted through legislation rather than derived from judicial decisions (common law) or administrative regulations alone. The statute is taxonomically classified as a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." This classification reflects its formal nature as an official government document that establishes binding legal norms. In semantic web frameworks, statutes are considered equivalent to the schema.org/Legislation class, enabling interoperability with structured data systems. ### Enactment and Authority The law was promulgated on May 18, 1966, by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. At the time of enactment, Brazil was under military rule following the 1964 coup d'état. President Castelo Branco, who led the country from April 1964 to March 1967, was the de facto executive during this period. The law's promulgation followed the standard process of Brazilian federal legislation, which involves drafting, legislative approval, and formal signing by the President. The place of publication is Brasília, which became Brazil's capital on April 22, 1960, replacing Rio de Janeiro. This reflects the geographic and administrative center of Brazilian federal governance at the time of the law's enactment. ### Metadata and Identification Law No. 4985/1966 carries several official identifiers that facilitate its discovery and citation within legal and academic contexts: - **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 4985/1966 (the standard format for citing Brazilian federal laws) - **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1966-05-18;4985 (the unique identifier in Brazil's legal XML metadata system) - **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese (the official language of Brazilian federal legislation) - **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (federal scope, applying throughout the national territory) The law is cataloged with two primary subjects: "legislation" (Legislação) and "revocation" (Revogação). These subjects indicate the law's thematic focus, though the specific content addressing these subjects is not detailed in the available metadata. ### Accessibility and Preservation The statute remains publicly accessible through the official website of the Brazilian Presidency at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4985.htm. This portal provides free access to Brazil's federal legislation, reflecting the country's commitment to transparency and public access to legal texts. This accessibility aligns with the broader principle that statutes, as official legal documents, are generally in the public domain in many jurisdictions, including Brazil. The "edict of government doctrine" establishes that official legal documents—including legislative enactments—are not subject to copyright restrictions, ensuring that citizens have unrestrained access to the laws governing them. ### Relationship to Brazilian Legal System As a federal statute, Law No. 4985/1966 exists within Brazil's hierarchical legal framework. The Brazilian legal system is based on civil law traditions, with statutory law serving as the primary source of law. The Constitution of Brazil, promulgated on October 5, 1988, stands at the apex of this hierarchy, followed by federal laws, decrees, and regulations. The law's existence during the military government period (1964-1985) places it within a specific historical context. During this era, the Brazilian Congress remained operational, though with reduced autonomy, and continued to pass legislation at the federal level. Laws from this period form part of Brazil's legal corpus and may still be in force, having neither been explicitly revoked nor declared unconstitutional. ### Historical Context Law No. 4985/1966 was enacted during a transformative period in Brazilian history. The military coup of 1964 led to over two decades of military rule, during which Brazil experienced significant economic growth (the "Brazilian Miracle" of 1968-1973), urbanization, and industrialization. The legal framework during this period reflected the government's priorities, including economic development, political stabilization, and the suppression of political opposition. The law's 1966 enactment places it within the early years of military governance, following the institutional acts and constitutional amendments that consolidated military control. Understanding this historical context helps explain the law's place within Brazil's legislative output during the mid-1960s. ### Formal Characteristics Brazilian federal laws follow a standardized format and nomenclature. The designation "Lei nº 4985" indicates that this was the 4,985th law enacted by the Brazilian federal government. The date format (18 de maio de 1966) follows Brazilian convention, and the law is part of the 1950-1969 legislative cohort, as reflected in its URL structure. The law's publication in Brasília, rather than Rio de Janeiro, reflects the capital transfer completed in 1960 and underscores the administrative transformation of Brazil during the mid-20th century. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1966-05-18;4985) 2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=4985&ano=1966&data=18/05/1966&ato=c8fITRE9EMZRVTed6)