# Law No. 4991 of May 20, 1966

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105647607](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105647607)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-4991-of-may-20-1966

## Summary

Law No. 4991 of May 20, 1966 (Lei nº 4991/1966) is a Brazilian federal statute promulgated by President Castelo Branco establishing special budgetary credits (crédito especial) for the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, with provisions related to ports and administrative management. This law was enacted during Brazil's military government period and represents a specific legislative instrument for allocating extraordinary financial resources to transportation infrastructure.

## Key Facts

- **Official Title:** Lei nº 4991, de 20 de maio de 1966
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 4991/1966
- **Country:** Brazil
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies to Brazil (federal level)
- **Promulgation Date:** May 20, 1966
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil (President Castelo Branco)
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Instance Of:** Statute (formal written legal document)
- **LEXML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1966-05-20;4991
- **Main Subjects:** Special budgetary adjustment (Crédito Especial), Management (Administração), Port (Porto), Ministry of Transport of Brazil (Ministério da Viação e Obras Públicas)
- **Official Source URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4991.htm
- **Wikimedia Project:** On focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws

## FAQs

**What type of law is Law No. 4991/1966?**

Law No. 4991/1966 is a Brazilian federal statute—a formal written document that creates law—classified as a "special budgetary credit" (crédito especial) law. It falls under the category of financial legislation that authorizes extraordinary government spending for specific purposes.

**What is the subject matter of Law No. 4991 of May 20, 1966?**

This law addresses four main subject areas: special budgetary adjustments (crédito especial), general management (administração), ports (porto), and the Ministry of Transport of Brazil (Ministério da Viação e Obras Públicas). The law appears to authorize funding mechanisms for transportation infrastructure and port administration.

**Who enacted Law No. 4991/1966?**

The law was promulgated by President Castelo Branco, who served as President of Brazil during the military government period. The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil on May 20, 1966.

**Where can Law No. 4991/1966 be accessed?**

The full text of the law is available through the official Brazilian government legislation portal at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4991.htm, which hosts the civil laws from 1950-1969.

**What is the historical context of Law No. 4991/1966?**

Law No. 4991/1966 was enacted during Brazil's military government period (1964-1985). It represents a specific legislative action from May 1966, a time when Brazil was under military rule and undergoing significant political and economic transformation.

## Why It Matters

Law No. 4991 of May 20, 1966 matters as a historical legal document that illustrates how the Brazilian federal government managed transportation infrastructure funding during the military period. As a "crédito especial" (special budgetary credit) law, it demonstrates the mechanism by which the Brazilian government could allocate extraordinary financial resources outside the regular budget cycle—specifically directed toward the Ministry of Transport and Public Works.

This type of legislation was significant in a period when Brazil was investing heavily in infrastructure development, including ports and transportation networks that were crucial for economic growth. The law represents the intersection of financial legislation and infrastructure policy in mid-1960s Brazil.

For legal researchers, historians, and those studying Brazilian administrative law, this statute serves as evidence of how special budgetary mechanisms were used to fund specific government functions. The law's inclusion in the official civil law compilation (Código Civil) and its documentation in legal databases like LEXML demonstrate its continued relevance in the Brazilian legal framework.

## Notable For

- **Special Budgetary Mechanism:** Represents a specific type of Brazilian financial legislation that authorizes extraordinary credits (crédito especial) for government operations
- **Transportation Focus:** Directly relates to the Ministry of Transport of Brazil (Ministério da Viação e Obras Públicas), a key government ministry for infrastructure
- **Historical Significance:** Enacted during Brazil's military government period under President Castelo Branco
- **Legal Documentation:** Preserved in official government archives and accessible through the Presidency's legislation portal
- **Part of Brazilian Legal Corpus:** Included in the collection of Brazilian federal laws from 1950-1969

## Body

### Legislative Origin and Enactment

Law No. 4991 of May 20, 1966 originated from the federal legislative process of Brazil and was promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The law was signed into existence on May 20, 1966, during the administration of President Castelo Branco, who led Brazil from 1964 to 1967 as part of the military government that assumed power following the 1964 coup d'état.

The law was published in Brasília, which had been the capital of Brazil since April 22, 1960, when the capital administration was transferred from Rio de Janeiro to the newly constructed Brasília. This move was mandated by the Constitution of 1988's predecessor constitutions and represented a major administrative transformation in Brazilian governance.

### Legal Classification and Structure

Law No. 4991/1966 is classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law. In the Brazilian legal system, statutes (leis) are the primary form of legislation enacted by the federal government. The law carries the official identifier "Lei nº 4991" and is formally cited as "Lei nº 4991, de 20 de maio de 1966" or abbreviated as "Lei nº 4991/1966."

The statute is catalogued in the Brazilian legal documentation system with the LEXML identifier "urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1966-05-20;4991," which provides a unique reference for legal databases and government documentation systems. This identifier allows legal researchers, courts, and citizens to precisely locate the law in digital repositories.

### Subject Matter and Purpose

The law addresses several interconnected subject areas:

**Special Budgetary Adjustment (Crédito Especial):** The law establishes a special budgetary credit mechanism, which in Brazilian public finance represents an extraordinary authorization for government spending that falls outside the regular annual budget. This type of financial instrument allows the executive branch to access additional funds for specific purposes when the need arises during the fiscal year.

**Management (Administração):** Provisions related to administrative matters are included, addressing how government resources should be managed and allocated under the authorization granted by the law.

**Ports (Porto):** The law contains specific provisions related to ports, indicating an investment in Brazil's maritime infrastructure. Brazil's port system has historically been crucial for the country's economy, given its extensive coastline and role in international trade.

**Ministry of Transport of Brazil (Ministério da Viação e Obras Públicas):** The law specifically targets funding for the ministry responsible for transportation infrastructure and public works—a key agency in Brazil's development during the mid-20th century. This ministry, known in Portuguese as "Ministério da Viação e Obras Públicas," was responsible for roads, ports, railways, and other critical infrastructure.

### Historical Context

Law No. 4991/1966 was enacted during a significant period in Brazilian history. The mid-1960s represented a time of intense infrastructure development and modernization under the military government. The administration of President Castelo Branco implemented numerous economic policies aimed at stabilizing Brazil's economy and promoting development, including investments in transportation infrastructure to support industrial growth and integration of the vast Brazilian territory.

Brazil in 1966 was a country experiencing significant transformation. The population was growing rapidly (from approximately 72.8 million in 1960 toward the 90 million mark by the mid-1960s), and the government was investing in infrastructure to support this growth. The country's economy, while smaller than today's $1.92 trillion GDP, was developing through industrialization and agricultural expansion.

### Accessibility and Legal Status

The law remains accessible through official government channels. The full text is available at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4991.htm, which hosts the collection of Brazilian civil laws from 1950 to 1969. This portal is maintained by the Brazilian federal government and provides free access to legislation.

The law is written in Brazilian Portuguese, reflecting the official language of Brazil and its legal system. As a Brazilian federal statute, it applies throughout the national territory and is binding on all entities and individuals within Brazilian jurisdiction.

### Relationship to Broader Legal Framework

Law No. 4991/1966 exists within the broader context of Brazilian financial law and administrative legislation. It represents one of many laws passed during the 1960s that addressed the financing of government operations and infrastructure development.

The law is part of the WikiProject Brazilian Laws focus list, indicating its inclusion in collaborative efforts to document and organize information about Brazilian legislation. This classification helps legal researchers and the public access information about specific Brazilian laws within the larger corpus of national legislation.

### Documentation and References

The law has been documented in multiple official and academic sources:

- The official legislation portal of the Brazilian Presidency (presidencia.gov.br)
- The LEXML legal database system, which provides structured legal documentation for Brazilian law
- Government civil law compilations
- Academic and legal research databases

The documentation includes references dating from 2021, indicating ongoing use and accessibility of this legislation in contemporary legal research and administrative practice.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1966-05-20;4991)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=4991&ano=1966&data=20/05/1966&ato=dd6kXSE9EMZRVTcf5)