# Law No. 6119 of October 15, 1974

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105660071](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105660071)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-6119-of-october-15-1974

## Summary
Law No. 6119 of October 15, 1974, is a Brazilian statute enacted to authorize the Executive Branch to open supplementary credits for programs outlined in Law No. 5,964 of December 10, 1973. Promulgated during the presidency of Ernesto Geisel, it forms part of Brazil’s legislative framework for budgetary adjustments, ensuring financial flexibility for government initiatives. The law is documented in Brazilian Portuguese and remains accessible via official legal databases.

## Key Facts
- **Enactment Date:** October 15, 1974.
- **Country:** Brazil.
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 6119, de 15 de outubro de 1974.
- **Related Law:** Authorizes supplementary credits for programs under Law No. 5,964 (December 10, 1973).
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil (Ernesto Geisel).
- **Legal Digest:** "Autoriza o Poder Executivo a abrir créditos suplementares aos programas constantes da Lei 5.964, de 10 de dezembro de 1973" (Authorizes the Executive Branch to open supplementary credits for programs in Law No. 5,964).
- **Publication Date:** October 15, 1974.
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies to Brazil.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1974-10-15;6119.
- **Access:** Available at [https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6119.htm](https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6119.htm).
- **Focus List:** Part of WikiProject Brazilian Laws.

## FAQs
**When was Law No. 6119 enacted and by whom?**  
Law No. 6119 was enacted on October 15, 1974, during the presidency of Ernesto Geisel, who promulgated the statute as part of his executive authority.

**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 6119?**  
The law authorizes the opening of supplementary credits for government programs established under Law No. 5,964 of 1973, facilitating budget adjustments to support public initiatives.

**Where can the full text of Law No. 6119 be accessed?**  
The law is publicly available via the official Brazilian legal database at [https://www.planalto.gov.br](https://www.planalto.gov.br) and is identified by the LexML URI `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1974-10-15;6119`.

**How does Law No. 6119 relate to Brazil’s legislative framework?**  
It operates within the context of Brazil’s 1967 Constitution (amended in 1969) and aligns with the country’s statutory processes for budgetary management during the military government era (1964–1985).

## Why It Matters
Law No. 6119 is significant for its role in Brazil’s budgetary governance during the 1970s, a period marked by military rule and economic development initiatives. By enabling supplementary credits, the law ensured the continuity of government programs amid fiscal constraints, reflecting the state’s capacity to adapt financial resources to strategic priorities. This statutory mechanism underscores the broader importance of legislative flexibility in maintaining public services and infrastructure projects, particularly during Brazil’s rapid industrialization and urbanization phases. The law also exemplifies the centralized budgetary control characteristic of the military regime, which prioritized state-led economic planning.

## Notable For
- **Supplementary Credit Authorization:** Empowered the Executive Branch to adjust budgets for specific programs, ensuring fiscal responsiveness.
- **Military-Era Legislation:** Enacted under President Ernesto Geisel (1974–1979), a key figure in Brazil’s military government, during a period of institutional acts and economic planning.
- **Connection to Law No. 5,964:** Directly linked to the 1973 law governing programmatic budgets, demonstrating legislative continuity.
- **Public Accessibility:** Published in the *Diário Oficial da União* and archived in national legal repositories, ensuring transparency.
- **LexML Identification:** Assigned a unique URI for digital legal documentation, aligning with modern governance standards.

## Body

### Legal Context and Purpose
Law No. 6119 operates within Brazil’s statutory framework as a **supplementary credit law**, a common legislative tool for budget adjustments. Supplementary credits allow governments to reallocate funds to address unforeseen expenses or prioritize critical programs. This law specifically targeted initiatives outlined in **Law No. 5,964 of December 10, 1973**, which established budgetary guidelines for federal programs. By authorizing these credits, Law No. 6119 ensured the financial viability of government projects during a period of significant economic growth and state intervention in Brazil.

### Legislative History and Promulgation
Enacted on **October 15, 1974**, the law was promulgated by **President Ernesto Geisel**, a military leader who governed Brazil from 1974 to 1979. Geisel’s administration emphasized economic stability and infrastructure development, policies that required agile budget management. The law’s approval followed standard legislative procedures, reflecting the centralized decision-making structure of Brazil’s military regime. It was published in the *Diário Oficial da União* (Official Gazette of the Union), the primary vehicle for legal dissemination in Brazil.

### Legal Digest and Scope
The statute’s legal digest explicitly states its purpose:  
*"Autoriza o Poder Executivo a abrir créditos suplementares aos programas constantes da Lei 5.964, de 10 de dezembro de 1973"* (Authorizes the Executive Branch to open supplementary credits for programs in Law No. 5,964 of December 10, 1973). This mandate applied to all programs covered under the 1973 law, enabling targeted financial adjustments without requiring new legislation for each expenditure.

### Jurisdiction and Language
As a **federal law**, Law No. 6119 applies nationwide across Brazil’s 26 states and the Federal District. It was drafted and published in **Brazilian Portuguese**, the country’s official language, ensuring accessibility to legal stakeholders and the public. The use of Portuguese aligns with Brazil’s constitutional mandate (Article 13, 1988 Constitution) requiring laws to be written in the national language.

### Publication and Accessibility
The law is archived in Brazil’s **LexML database** under the unique identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1974-10-15;6119`, a system designed to track and organize federal legislation. A digitized version is accessible via the **Planalto Government Portal** ([https://www.planalto.gov.br](https://www.planalto.gov.br)), a primary resource for Brazilian legal texts. This digital availability reflects modern governance practices, though the law itself predates the internet era.

### Significance in Brazilian Governance
Law No. 6119 exemplifies the **budgetary flexibility** critical to Brazil’s military-era development strategy. During the 1970s, the government prioritized large-scale projects such as the Trans-Amazonian Highway and nuclear energy initiatives, which required dynamic financial management. By authorizing supplementary credits, the law supported these efforts while adhering to legal formalities. It also underscores the historical tension between executive authority and legislative oversight in Brazil, a theme that persists in contemporary debates over fiscal responsibility.

### Related Legal and Historical Framework
The law’s reference to **Law No. 5,964 of 1973** situates it within a broader legislative ecosystem. This earlier statute established the budgetary framework for federal programs, illustrating the incremental nature of statutory law in Brazil. Together, these laws reflect the military government’s reliance on targeted legislation to drive economic policy, often bypassing legislative bodies to expedite decisions. Such practices were later critiqued during Brazil’s democratization process in the 1980s.

### Legacy and Modern Relevance
While Law No. 6119 is a product of its historical context, its mechanisms for budgetary adjustment remain relevant. Contemporary Brazilian governance still employs supplementary credit laws, though under stricter oversight post-1988 Constitution. The law’s digital archiving and inclusion in WikiProject Brazilian Laws highlight its enduring role as a reference point for scholars and policymakers studying Brazil’s economic and legal history.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1974-10-15;6119)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=6119&ano=1974&data=15/10/1974&ato=c6dgXUq5kenRVTcbd)
3. LexML Brasil