# Law No. 5971 of December 11, 1973

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105659875](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105659875)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-5971-of-december-11-1973

## Summary
Law No. 5971 of December 11, 1973 (Lei nº 5971) is a Brazilian federal statute that regulates horse racing (turf) activity throughout Brazil. Promulgated by President Emílio Garrastazu Médici during the military dictatorship period, it establishes comprehensive regulatory frameworks for economic valuation, authorization, operation, and oversight of the turf industry under the Ministry of Agriculture.

## Key Facts
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 5971, de 11 de dezembro de 1973
- **Instance of:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Date of Publication:** December 11, 1973
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
- **Promulgating Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Promulgated by:** President Emílio Garrastazu Médici (via promulgation)
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (federal level)
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 5971/1973
- **Lexml Brazil Identifier:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1973-12-11;5971
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l5971.htm
- **Primary Subject:** Turf activity (horse racing) regulation
- **Regulatory Body:** Ministry of Agriculture of Brazil (Ministério Da Agricultura)
- **Wikimedia Status:** On focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws

## FAQs
**What is the main purpose of Law No. 5971 of December 11, 1973?**
This federal statute regulates horse racing (turf) activity throughout Brazil, establishing frameworks for economic valuation, competency, importation, authorization, operation, prohibitions, and regulatory oversight by the Ministry of Agriculture.

**Who promulgated Law No. 5971 and when?**
The law was promulgated by President Emílio Garrastazu Médici through the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil on December 11, 1973, and published the same day in Brasília.

**Where can I access the full text of this law?**
The complete official text is available at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l5971.htm and is indexed in Brazil's Lexml system under identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1973-12-11;5971.

**What subjects does the law address?**
The law covers economic value, competency, importation, authorization, operation (funcionamento), prohibition, and regulation of turf activities, with oversight assigned to the Ministry of Agriculture of Brazil.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 5971 of December 11, 1973 represents a foundational regulatory framework for Brazil's horse racing industry, establishing the legal infrastructure necessary for organizing, operating, and overseeing turf activities at a national level. By consolidating authority under the Ministry of Agriculture and addressing multiple dimensions—from economic valuation to importation regulations—the statute provided systematic governance for an industry that encompasses significant economic activity, sporting tradition, and agricultural interests. The law's comprehensive scope, covering authorization processes, operational standards, and explicit prohibitions, created clarity for industry participants while enabling government oversight. As a federal statute promulgated during a transformative period in Brazilian history, it reflects the centralization of regulatory authority characteristic of the era while establishing enduring legal structures for the turf sector.

## Notable For
- **Comprehensive Turf Regulation:** First major federal statute specifically addressing horse racing activity regulation across all of Brazil
- **Agricultural Ministry Jurisdiction:** Places horse racing industry oversight under the Ministry of Agriculture, recognizing the industry's connection to livestock and breeding sectors
- **Multi-Dimensional Framework:** Addresses seven distinct regulatory dimensions (economic value, competency, importation, authorization, operation, prohibition, and regulation) in a single statute
- **Military Era Legislation:** One of numerous regulatory statutes enacted during President Emílio Garrastazu Médici's administration (1969-1974)
- **Lexml Integration:** Fully indexed in Brazil's official legal document system with persistent identifier
- **Presidential Promulgation:** Directly promulgated by the President of the Republic, indicating high-level executive attention to the sector

## Body

### Legislative Classification and Formal Nature
Law No. 5971 of December 11, 1973 is classified as a **statute** (statute), defined as a formal written document that creates law. As a legal instrument, it functions as a manifestation of statutory law and is composed of legal norms. Statutes in the Brazilian legal system represent the physical or formal expression of legal rules enacted by government authority. This particular statute was created through the legislative process, following draft laws, and represents a subclass of written work, document, and rule within the taxonomy of legal instruments.

### Historical and Political Context
The law was promulgated on **December 11, 1973**, during the period of military rule in Brazil (1964-1985). President **Emílio Garrastazu Médici** served as the promulgating authority, acting through the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. Médici's presidency (1969-1974) was characterized by significant government involvement in economic and regulatory matters, and this statute represents the extension of regulatory oversight to the horse racing industry during that period. The law was published in **Brasília**, the federal capital established in 1960, which had been serving as the seat of federal government for 13 years at the time of this law's publication.

### Subject Matter and Regulatory Scope
The law's official digest states: "DISPÕE SOBRE A ATIVIDADE TURFISTICA NO PAIS E DA OUTRAS PROVIDENCIAS" (Provides for turf activity in the country and gives other provisions). The term "turfística" refers to horse racing activities, including associated betting, breeding, and operational aspects. The statute addresses multiple specific subjects as documented in its main subject classifications:

- **Economic Value (Valor):** Establishes frameworks for monetary and economic valuation within the turf industry, likely relating to prize money, betting pools, and horse valuations
- **Competency (Competência):** Defines jurisdictional and operational competencies among various governmental and private entities
- **Importation (Importação):** Regulates the import of horses, equipment, or materials related to horse racing activities
- **Authorization (Autorização):** Sets requirements for official authorizations to operate racing facilities, conduct races, or participate in betting
- **Operation (Funcionamento):** Governs operational standards for racetracks, betting facilities, and related infrastructure
- **Prohibition (Proibição):** Establishes prohibited activities within the turf industry, likely addressing illegal betting, race manipulation, or unauthorized operations
- **Regulation (Regulamentação):** Provides regulatory frameworks and mechanisms for ongoing oversight

### Regulatory Authority and Institutional Framework
The **Ministry of Agriculture of Brazil** (Ministério Da Agricultura) is designated as a key regulatory body under this legislation. This assignment reflects the recognition that horse racing is intrinsically connected to agricultural sectors, including horse breeding, livestock management, and rural economic activity. The Ministry's involvement ensures that turf activities align with broader agricultural policy and animal welfare considerations.

### Publication, Language, and Official Sources
The statute was published in **Brazilian Portuguese**, the official language of Brazil, on December 11, 1973, in Brasília. The complete official text is maintained by the Brazilian government and accessible through the Presidency's legislative portal at **https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l5971.htm**. This digital availability ensures public access to the law's provisions as required by Brazilian legal principles.

### Legal Citation and Identification Systems
The law carries the legal citation **Lei nº 5971/1973**, following the standard Brazilian format of law number and year of enactment. Additionally, it is indexed in Brazil's **Lexml** system (Legislative XML) with the persistent identifier **urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1973-12-11;5971**. This identifier provides a standardized, machine-readable reference that enables reliable citation and retrieval across legal databases and information systems. The Lexml system is Brazil's official infrastructure for organizing and providing access to legislative documents.

### Jurisdictional Application
As a federal statute, Law No. 5971 **applies to the jurisdiction of Brazil** nationwide, superseding any conflicting state or municipal regulations on the same subjects. The law governs turf activities throughout the entire national territory, establishing uniform standards for the industry regardless of location. This federal-level regulation ensures consistency in how horse racing is conducted and overseen across all Brazilian states.

### Wikimedia Project Recognition
Law No. 5971 is included on the focus list of **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, a collaborative effort to document and improve coverage of Brazilian legislation on Wikimedia projects. This recognition indicates that the statute is considered significant within the corpus of Brazilian law and worthy of comprehensive documentation. The WikiProject classification ensures that the law receives attention from editors and contributors working to build complete coverage of Brazil's legal framework.

### Related Legal Concepts
As a statute, Law No. 5971 shares characteristics with other formal legal instruments:
- It is a formal written document creating law
- It functions as a manifestation of statutory law
- It contains legal norms as its constituent parts
- It was created through legislation following draft laws
- It results in statutory law as its effect

The statute is distinguished from related concepts such as "legislation" (the process) or "legal act" (broader category), representing instead the concrete written expression of legal rules. In copyright terms, as an official legal document, it falls under the "edict of government doctrine" and is in the public domain, ensuring that citizens have unrestricted access to the laws they must follow.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1973-12-11;5971)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=5971&ano=1973&data=11/12/1973&ato=2d3gXUq5EenRVT245)
3. LexML Brasil