# Law No. 5979 of December 12, 1973

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105659917](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105659917)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-5979-of-december-12-1973

## Summary
Law No. 5979 of December 12, 1973, also known as "Lei nº 5979," is a Brazilian federal statute that authorizes the donation of Union (federal) land to the Companhia Brasileira de Alimentos (COBAL). Promulgated by President Emílio Garrastazu Médici, it functions as a formal legal instrument governing the transfer of federal property, specifically real estate, to a state-owned enterprise in Pernambuco.

## Key Facts
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 5979, de 12 de dezembro de 1973.
- **Classification:** Instance of a **statute**, a formal written document that creates law and acts as a manifestation of statutory law.
- **Publication Date:** December 12, 1973.
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (Federative Republic of Brazil).
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Promulgated By:** President Emílio Garrastazu Médici.
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Digest/Subject:** Provides for the donation of Union terrain to the Companhia Brasileira de Alimentos (COBAL) and other measures.
- **Primary Subjects:** Federal Government of Brazil ("União Federal"), authorization, incorporation, gift/donation, Pernambuco (PE), transfer, and real estate/terrain.
- **Citation:** Lei nº 5979/1973.
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1973-12-12;5979`.
- **Official URL:** Available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l5979.htm`.

## FAQs
**What is the legal effect of Law No. 5979/1973?**
The law serves as the formal legal instrument authorizing the **donation** and **transfer** of real estate owned by the Federal Government (the Union) to the Companhia Brasileira de Alimentos (COBAL). It grants legal authorization for this property transaction in the state of Pernambuco.

**Who signed and enacted this law?**
The statute was **promulgated** on December 12, 1973, by **President Emílio Garrastazu Médici**, acting in his capacity as the head of the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The publication occurred in Brasília, the federal capital.

**Where can the full text of the law be found?**
The official text of the law is accessible online via the Brazilian Presidency's legislative portal at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l5979.htm`. It is also indexed in the Brazilian legal system under the Lexml ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1973-12-12;5979`.

## Why It Matters
This law matters as a specific instance of federal statutory law governing state property and state-owned enterprises. It demonstrates the legal mechanisms through which the Brazilian Federal Government (the Union) disposes of public assets, specifically land, to its own companies (COBAL). As a statute, it represents the concrete, written manifestation of a legal rule required to validate such transfers, ensuring the process of donating federal terrain is legally binding, documented, and authorized by the executive branch. It functions within the broader framework of Brazil's legal system as a public domain document, accessible to all citizens.

## Notable For
- **Federal Property Transfer:** A legal instrument specifically authorizing the donation of Union-owned land.
- **State-Owned Enterprise Support:** Facilitates the operation of COBAL (Companhia Brasileira de Alimentos) by transferring federal assets to it.
- **Executive Authority:** Showcases the legislative power of the Presidency during the military dictatorship era under President Emílio Garrastazu Médici.
- **Public Domain Legal Text:** As a Brazilian statute, it is an official legal document not subject to copyright, ensuring public accessibility.

## Body

### Legal Classification and Nature
Law No. 5979 of December 12, 1973, is classified as a **statute**. In legal and knowledge systems, a statute is defined as a formal written document that creates law, encompassing acts, executive orders, and by-laws. It is the concrete manifestation of statutory law, composed of legal norms, and serves as the official record of a legal rule enacted by an authority. As a subclass of "written work" and "document," this law is a formal edict of the government, placing it in the public domain.

### Subject Matter and Provisions
The law's core function is to **"DISPÕE SOBRE DOAÇÃO DE TERRENO DA UNIÃO A COMPANHIA BRASILEIRA DE ALIMENTOS-COBAL-E DA OUTRAS PROVIDENCIAS"** (Provides for the donation of Union terrain to the Brazilian Food Company-COBAL and other measures). Its primary legal subjects include:
- **Federal Government of Brazil (União Federal):** The donor of the property.
- **Pernambuco (PE):** The Brazilian state where the transaction and property are situated.
- **Companhia Brasileira de Alimentos (COBAL):** The recipient state-owned company.
- **Key Legal Concepts:** The law addresses concepts of **gift/donation** (Doação), **transfer** (Transferência), **incorporation** (Incorporação), and **authorization** (Autorização).

### Enactment and Authority
The statute was approved and promulgated by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil** on **December 12, 1973**. The specific head of state responsible for its promulgation was President **Emílio Garrastazu Médici**. The law was published in **Brasília**, the federal capital of Brazil, in the Portuguese language.

### Official Identifiers and Access
The law is indexed and accessible through several official identifiers:
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1973-12-12;5979`.
- **Legal Citation:** `Lei nº 5979/1973`.
- **Official Web URL:** The full text is hosted on the Brazilian government's portal at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l5979.htm`.
- **WikiProject:** It is listed on the "WikiProject Brazilian Laws," indicating its relevance for structured knowledge management.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1973-12-12;5979)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=5979&ano=1973&data=12/12/1973&ato=0b2UTUq5EenRVTdb9)
3. LexML Brasil