# Law No. 6373 of November 8, 1976

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105659696](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105659696)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-6373-of-november-8-1976

## Summary
**Law No. 6373 of November 8, 1976** (Lei nº 6373) is a Brazilian federal statute that authorizes the Federal Union (União Federal) to renounce creditor rights in favor of the Municipality of Urussanga, located in the state of Santa Catarina. Enacted during the presidency of Ernesto Geisel and promulgated in Brasília, the law addresses specific financial authorizations and indemnities involving the Ministry of Agriculture. It is formally classified as a statute and applies to jurisdictions within the Federative Republic of Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 6373, de 8 de novembro de 1976.
- **Date of Enactment:** November 8, 1976.
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil; signed by President Ernesto Geisel.
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (Federative Republic of Brazil).
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília.
- **Primary Subject:** Authorizes the Union to renounce creditor rights (*renunciar a direitos creditorios*) in favor of the Municipality of Urussanga, Santa Catarina.
- **Key Topics:** Authorization, Indemnity, Municipality of Urussanga, Federal Government of Brazil, Ministry of Agriculture of Brazil.
- **Legal Classification:** Statute (formal written document that creates law).
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **LexML ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-11-08;6373`.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 6373/1976.
- **Official URL:** Available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6373.htm`.

## FAQs

**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 6373/1976?**
The law authorizes the Brazilian Federal Union to waive specific creditor rights in favor of the Municipality of Urussanga in Santa Catarina. It functions as a legal instrument for financial authorization and indemnity adjustment between federal and municipal levels.

**Who signed Law No. 6373 into force?**
The statute was approved and promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, with President Ernesto Geisel serving as the head of state at the time of enactment on November 8, 1976.

**Which government bodies are referenced in this law?**
The legislation explicitly involves the Federal Government of Brazil (União Federal), the Ministry of Agriculture of Brazil, and the government of the State of Santa Catarina, specifically regarding the Municipality of Urussanga.

**How is this law formally identified in Brazilian legal systems?**
It is identified by the LexML Brazil ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-11-08;6373` and legally cited as Lei nº 6373/1976. It is part of the "WikiProject Brazilian Laws" focus list on Wikimedia projects.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 6373 of November 8, 1976, represents a specific exercise of federal authority in Brazil's fiscal and administrative relationship with its municipalities. By formally authorizing the "renunciation of creditor rights," the statute serves as a mechanism for debt relief or financial settlement between the central government and local authorities—in this case, Urussanga. This act illustrates the legal processes required for the Union to forgo claims on public funds, a power that requires explicit legislative sanction.

Furthermore, the law serves as a concrete example of a **statute** in action. As defined by legal ontology, a statute is the formal written manifestation of statutory law. Law No. 6373 embodies this by being a formal document enacted via legislation, resulting in a specific legal norm (the authorization of renunciation) that binds the relevant parties. It highlights the role of the Presidency (under Ernesto Geisel) and the Ministry of Agriculture in managing federal liabilities and authorizations during the mid-1970s.

## Notable For
- **Specific Fiscal Authorization:** It is a targeted legislative act authorizing the renunciation of creditor rights specifically for the Municipality of Urussanga, Santa Catarina.
- **Involvement of Ministry of Agriculture:** Unlike general financial laws, this statute lists the Ministry of Agriculture of Brazil as a main subject, suggesting the underlying claims were related to agricultural matters or indemnities.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted in 1976, it falls within the period of Brazil's military dictatorship (specifically the Geisel administration), reflecting the era's top-down administrative legal structures.
- **Legal Classification:** Serves as a prime example of a "statute" as defined by Schema.org and legal dictionaries—a formal written document creating law, distinguished from broader legal theories.

## Body

### Legislative Definition and Scope
Law No. 6373 is formally classified as a **statute** (Portuguese: *Lei*). In the context of legal ontology, a statute is a formal written document that creates law, encompassing acts passed by legislatures. This law functions as the concrete manifestation of statutory law within the Brazilian legal system. It is composed of legal norms that have the force of law and applies to the jurisdiction of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

The specific function of this statute, as recorded in the official law digest, is to "authorize the Union to renounce creditor rights in favor of the Municipality of Urussanga, in the State of Santa Catarina." This action falls under the legal concepts of **authorization** and **indemnity** (*indenização*), allowing the federal government to legally waive debts or claims owed by the municipality.

### Enactment and Authority
The law was enacted on **November 8, 1976**, and published in **Brasília**, the federal capital of Brazil.
- **Approving Body:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Head of State:** Ernesto Geisel (indicated by the qualifier P1891).
- **Determination Method:** Promulgation.

This legislative act followed the standard Brazilian federal legislative process, wherein a draft law is transformed into a statute through the act of legislation.

### Subjects and Entities
The law involves a specific network of government entities and legal concepts:
- **Federal Government of Brazil (União Federal):** The entity holding the creditor rights that are being renounced.
- **Municipality of Urussanga:** The beneficiary of the renunciation, located in Santa Catarina.
- **Ministry of Agriculture of Brazil:** Listed as a main subject, indicating the sector relevant to the origins of the credit or indemnity.
- **Santa Catarina:** The state where the affected municipality is located.

### Jurisdiction and Language
The statute operates within the **legal system of Brazil**.
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies to Brazil.
- **Language:** Written in **Brazilian Portuguese**.
- **Citation:** Standard legal citation is *Lei nº 6373/1976*.

### Digital Identifiers and Access
The law is indexed and accessible through various digital identifiers to ensure authenticity and retrieval:
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-11-08;6373`. This URN (Uniform Resource Name) serves as the official persistent identifier in the Brazilian legal information system.
- **Official Source:** The full text is available at the official Planalto Palace website (`https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6373.htm`).
- **Wikimedia Project:** It is included in the "WikiProject Brazilian Laws" focus list, signifying its relevance for structured data curation on Wikimedia platforms.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-11-08;6373)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=6373&ano=1976&data=08/11/1976&ato=159QTRq50MnRVT1cb)
3. LexML Brasil