# Law No. 6388 of December 9, 1976 > Brazilian law **Wikidata**: [Q105659624](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105659624) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-6388-of-december-9-1976 ## Summary **Law No. 6388 of December 9, 1976** (Portuguese: Lei nº 6388, de 9 de dezembro de 1976) is a Brazilian federal statute enacted during the military dictatorship period. Promulgated by President Ernesto Geisel, the law authorizes the Government of the Federal District (GDF) to undertake purchasing and equipment acquisition activities, with involvement from Caixa Econômica Federal (CEF). It is classified as a formal written statute and applies to the Federal District of Brazil. ## Key Facts - **Official Title:** Lei nº 6388, de 9 de dezembro de 1976 - **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 6388/1976 - **Type of Instrument:** Statute (formal written document that creates law) - **Enactment Date:** December 9, 1976 - **Promulgating Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil - **Promulgating Official:** Ernesto Geisel (President of Brazil, via promulgation) - **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Federal District, Brazil - **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (Federal level) - **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese - **LexML Brazil Identifier:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-12-09;6388` - **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6388.htm - **Wikimedia Project:** Listed on WikiProject Brazilian Laws - **Primary Subjects:** Purchasing, Authorization, Equipment, Goals, Federal District (DF), Government of the Federal District (GDF), Caixa Econômica Federal (CEF) ## FAQs **What is Law No. 6388/1976?** Law No. 6388/1976 is a Brazilian federal statute enacted on December 9, 1976, that addresses purchasing authorization and equipment acquisition for the Government of the Federal District, with Caixa Econômica Federal involved as a related entity. **Who approved and promulgated this law?** The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil and promulgated by President Ernesto Geisel on December 9, 1976. **What jurisdiction does this law apply to?** The law applies to Brazil at the federal level, with specific focus on the Federal District (Distrito Federal - DF), where the capital Brasília is located. **Where can the full text of Law No. 6388/1976 be accessed?** The official text is available at the Brazilian Presidency's legislative portal: https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6388.htm, and is also indexed under the LexML Brazil system with identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-12-09;6388`. **What topics does Law No. 6388/1976 address?** The law's main subjects include purchasing (aquisição), authorization (autorização), equipment (equipamentos), goals (objetivo), the Federal District (Distrito Federal), the Government of the Federal District (GDF), and Caixa Econômica Federal (CEF). **What type of legal document is Law No. 6388/1976?** It is classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law. In the Brazilian legal system, a statute (lei) is a legislative act that establishes legal norms and rules. ## Why It Matters Law No. 6388 of December 9, 1976, represents a specific legislative intervention concerning the administrative and operational capacity of the Federal District of Brazil. Enacted during the presidency of General Ernesto Geisel amid Brazil's military dictatorship period (1964-1985), the law reflects the centralized approach to governance characteristic of that era, particularly regarding the administration of Brasília and the surrounding Federal District. The law matters because it establishes the legal framework for purchasing and equipment acquisition by the Government of the Federal District (GDF), authorizing specific procurement activities and defining the involvement of Caixa Econômica Federal—a major Brazilian state-owned financial institution. This type of authorization law is significant in Brazilian administrative law, as it provides the legal basis for government bodies to commit public resources and enter into contracts for goods and services. As a federal statute, Law No. 6388 is part of Brazil's broader statutory law framework, which serves as the primary instrument through which government authority is formally exercised and recorded. The law demonstrates the interconnected nature of Brazilian federal legislation, where the central government authorizes specific actions for regional administrative bodies like the GDF, while involving federal financial institutions like Caixa Econômica Federal in the implementation process. The law is also notable for its accessibility through modern digital infrastructure—available through both the official Planalto presidential portal and indexed in the LexML Brazil legal documentation system, reflecting Brazil's commitment to transparent and accessible legal publishing. ## Notable For - **Historical Context:** Enacted during Brazil's military dictatorship period under President Ernesto Geisel (1974-1979), representing the authoritarian regime's approach to centralized administrative governance - **Federal District Focus:** Specifically targets the Federal District (Distrito Federal), the unique federative unit containing Brazil's capital city, Brasília - **Caixa Econômica Federal Involvement:** Explicitly involves Brazil's major state-owned financial institution in the law's subject matter, demonstrating the interconnected role of public banking in Brazilian government operations - **LexML Brazil Integration:** Indexed in Brazil's official legal metadata system (LexML) with persistent identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-12-09;6388`, ensuring long-term digital accessibility - **WikiProject Brazilian Laws:** Recognized as part of a dedicated Wikimedia project to document and organize Brazilian legislation, indicating its relevance to collaborative legal knowledge bases - **Procurement Authorization:** Addresses purchasing and equipment acquisition—fundamental administrative functions for government operations in the Federal District ## Body ### Legal Classification and Status Law No. 6388 of December 9, 1976 (Lei nº 6388, de 9 de dezembro de 1976) is formally classified as a **statute**—a formal written document that creates law. In the hierarchy of Brazilian legal instruments, a statute represents a legislative act enacted at the federal level by the National Congress or, during the military dictatorship period, by the executive branch through various institutional acts. The law is an instance of a "legal term or legal concept" and constitutes a subclass of written work, document, and rule. As a manifestation of statutory law, it contains legal norms that govern specific aspects of administrative procedure and government authorization. The law is part of Brazil's broader "statutory law" framework and serves as a formal record of legal rules enacted by federal authority. Statutes in Brazil, like this one, generally hold public domain status under the "edict of government doctrine," meaning official legal documents are not subject to copyright restrictions to ensure public accessibility to the laws citizens must follow. ### Promulgation and Executive Authority The law was promulgated on **December 9, 1976**, by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The promulgating official was **Ernesto Geisel**, who served as President of Brazil from 1974 to 1979 during the military dictatorship period. Promulgation is the formal act by which the executive authority authenticates and publishes a law, giving it legal force. In this case, the determination method is explicitly recorded as "promulgation," indicating President Geisel's direct involvement in authorizing the law's enactment. This occurred during a period when Brazil was governed under authoritarian rule, with significant legislative power concentrated in the executive branch. The law was published in **Brasília**, the federal capital, which serves as the seat of Brazil's federal government and the administrative center of the Federal District (Distrito Federal). ### Subject Matter and Scope The law addresses multiple interconnected subjects that define its purpose and application: **Purchasing (Aquisição):** The law pertains to acquisition and procurement activities, establishing the legal basis for government purchasing operations. **Authorization (Autorização):** A central theme of the legislation is authorization—formally granting permission for specific governmental actions or expenditures. **Equipment (Equipamentos):** The law specifically references equipment, indicating that procurement activities relate to material and technical resources. **Goals (Objetivo):** The inclusion of goals as a subject suggests the law defines specific objectives or purposes for the authorized activities. **Federal District (Distrito Federal - DF):** The law explicitly targets the Federal District of Brazil, the unique federative unit that houses the national capital, Brasília, and operates under a distinct administrative structure from Brazil's 26 states. **Government of the Federal District (Governo do Distrito Federal - GDF):** The law directly involves the GDF, the administrative body governing the Federal District, as a primary subject. **Caixa Econômica Federal (CEF):** The law references Caixa Econômica Federal, Brazil's state-owned savings and mortgage bank, indicating the financial institution's involvement in implementing the law's provisions. ### Jurisdiction and Territorial Application Law No. 6388 applies to **Brazil** as its jurisdiction, functioning at the federal level of government. However, its specific focus on the **Federal District (Distrito Federal)** indicates targeted application to this particular federative unit. The Federal District is a unique administrative division in Brazil, created to house the federal capital, Brasília, which was inaugurated in 1960. Unlike Brazil's states, which have their own constitutions and governments, the Federal District is governed directly by federal legislation and its own organic law, with the Governor of the Federal District serving as the chief executive. The law's territorial application to the Federal District reflects the centralized control characteristic of the military dictatorship period, when the federal government maintained significant authority over the capital region's administration and development. ### Language and Official Documentation The law was composed and published in **Brazilian Portuguese**, the official language of Brazil. Brazilian Portuguese, while mutually intelligible with European Portuguese, has distinct orthographic, grammatical, and lexical characteristics established through various language reforms and cultural developments unique to Brazil. The official text is accessible through multiple channels: **Planalto Portal:** The law is available at the official website of the Brazilian Presidency (Planalto) at: `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6388.htm` **LexML Brazil System:** The law is indexed in Brazil's LexML legal metadata system with the persistent identifier: `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-12-09;6388` The LexML (Legal XML) system is an international standard for legal document identification and exchange, and Brazil's implementation provides a structured, machine-readable framework for accessing legal texts with guaranteed persistence and authenticity. ### Historical and Political Context The law was enacted on **December 9, 1976**, during the presidency of **Ernesto Geisel** (1907-1996), who governed Brazil from March 15, 1974, to March 15, 1979. Geisel was the fourth president during Brazil's military dictatorship period (1964-1985) and is noted for initiating a slow, gradual political opening (*abertura*) that would eventually lead to the return of democracy. The year 1976 fell within a period of significant centralization of federal authority in Brazil. The military regime had established extensive mechanisms for executive control over legislative processes, and many laws from this period reflect top-down administrative decisions rather than traditional parliamentary deliberation. The specific focus on the Federal District and Government of the Federal District (GDF) is significant, as Brasília was still a relatively young capital at this time—inaugurated in 1960, it was only 16 years old when this law was enacted. The federal government maintained close oversight of the Federal District's development and operations during this period. ### Related Institutional Entities **Caixa Econômica Federal (CEF):** This state-owned financial institution, referenced in the law's subject matter, is one of Brazil's largest banks and plays a central role in housing finance, social programs, and public fund management. Founded in 1861, Caixa serves as a primary vehicle for government social policies and urban development initiatives. **Government of the Federal District (GDF):** The administrative body responsible for governing the Federal District. During the military period, the Governor of the Federal District was appointed by the President rather than elected, reflecting the centralized political structure of the time. **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil:** The executive authority that promulgated the law, representing the highest level of federal government. During the dictatorship, the Presidency held exceptional powers over both executive and legislative functions. ### Digital Accessibility and Knowledge Organization Law No. 6388 is recognized within modern digital knowledge frameworks: **WikiProject Brazilian Laws:** The law is included in this Wikimedia project, which aims to organize and document Brazilian legislation within Wikipedia and related projects. This indicates the law's recognition as a subject of encyclopedic and educational interest. **LexML Integration:** The law's inclusion in the LexML Brazil system with a persistent URN (Uniform Resource Name) ensures long-term accessibility and citability in academic, legal, and governmental contexts. **Planalto Portal Publication:** The law's availability on the official presidential website ensures public access to the authoritative text, consistent with Brazilian constitutional principles of legal publicity and accessibility. ### Legal Citation and Reference Standards The standard legal citation for this law is **Lei nº 6388/1976**, following Brazilian citation conventions that combine the legislative instrument type (Lei), number (6388), and year of enactment (1976). Full formal citation includes: - Complete title: Lei nº 6388, de 9 de dezembro de 1976 - Citation format: Lei nº 6388/1976 - LexML URN: urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-12-09;6388 ## References 1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-12-09;6388) 2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=6388&ano=1976&data=09/12/1976&ato=ceeoXTq50MnRVTaa9)