# Law No. 6399 of December 10, 1976 > Brazilian law **Wikidata**: [Q105659650](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105659650) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-6399-of-december-10-1976 ## Summary Law No. 6399 of December 10, 1976, is a Brazilian statute enacted during the military government of President Ernesto Geisel. It established guidelines for public sector activities, including authorizations, investments, and agreements, forming part of Brazil’s legal framework for administrative and economic governance. ## Key Facts - **Enactment Date:** December 10, 1976. - **Approved By:** President Ernesto Geisel. - **Jurisdiction:** Federative Republic of Brazil. - **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 6399/1976. - **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese. - **LexML Identifier:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-12-10;6399`. - **Publication Date:** December 10, 1976 (Brasília). - **Key Subjects:** Authorization, investment, agreements, public administration, and resource management. - **Related Entities:** Brazil, Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. - **Amendments:** Subject to subsequent legislative changes. ## FAQs **What is Law No. 6399 of December 10, 1976?** This Brazilian law, enacted in 1976, governs public sector procedures, including authorizations, investments, and agreements. It was approved by President Ernesto Geisel during Brazil’s military regime. **Why was this law enacted?** The law aimed to formalize administrative processes and economic activities within the public sector, ensuring structured governance during a period of military rule. **Where does this law apply?** It applies to the Federative Republic of Brazil, specifically regulating federal-level public administration activities. **Is this law still in effect?** While the law remains part of Brazil’s legal history, many of its provisions have been amended or superseded by subsequent legislation. **What key areas does the law address?** It covers authorization procedures, investment frameworks, contractual agreements, and the creation of public management structures. ## Why It Matters Law No. 6399 is significant for its role in shaping Brazil’s administrative and economic governance during the military government era. It established foundational procedures for public sector operations, reflecting the state’s centralized control over resource allocation and institutional activities. The law’s emphasis on authorization and investment processes underscores its impact on Brazil’s development trajectory, particularly in infrastructure and economic planning. As a product of its historical context, it provides insight into the legal mechanisms of military-era governance while maintaining relevance in understanding Brazil’s evolving regulatory framework. ## Notable For - **Military-Era Legislation:** Enacted during Brazil’s 1964–1985 military dictatorship under President Geisel. - **Comprehensive Governance:** Addressed diverse aspects of public administration, from budgeting to contractual agreements. - **Enduring Framework:** Influenced subsequent administrative laws despite later amendments. - **Historical Context:** Reflects the military government’s focus on centralized economic planning and institutional control. ## Body ### Enactment and Legal Context Law No. 6399 was promulgated on December 10, 1976, by President Ernesto Geisel, who led Brazil’s military government from 1974 to 1979. The law emerged during a period of institutional acts (AI-5) that consolidated executive authority, emphasizing state control over economic and administrative processes. It is classified as a **statute** under Brazilian law, functioning as a formal written instrument of statutory law. ### Key Provisions The law’s structured properties highlight its scope: - **Authorization:** Defined protocols for approving public sector projects and expenditures. - **Investment:** Established frameworks for state-funded initiatives, including infrastructure and development programs. - **Agreements:** Regulated contractual relationships between government entities and private or international partners. - **Public Administration:** Created organizational structures for budget management and fiscal oversight. ### Historical Significance Enacted during Brazil’s military dictatorship (1964–1985), the law reflects the regime’s emphasis on centralized governance and economic intervention. It complemented other legislative measures aimed at modernizing Brazil’s administrative apparatus, such as the 1967 Constitution and subsequent institutional acts. The law’s provisions supported the military government’s agenda of industrialization and state-led development, exemplified by projects like the Amazon integration program. ### Jurisdiction and Application The law applied exclusively to the **Federative Republic of Brazil**, with a focus on federal administrative bodies. Its implementation was overseen by the Presidency and relevant ministries, ensuring compliance with the military government’s directives. The law’s jurisdiction aligned with Brazil’s federal structure, impacting national-level policies while allowing states and municipalities to enact complementary regulations. ### Legacy and Amendments While Law No. 6399 remains a historical reference, many of its articles have been modified or replaced by subsequent legislation, such as the 1988 Constitution and public administration reforms in the 1990s. Its legacy lies in establishing foundational principles for administrative law in Brazil, particularly in the areas of fiscal responsibility and contractual governance. The law’s approach to centralized planning influenced later regulatory frameworks, even as democratic reforms decentralized authority in the post-1985 era. ### Technical and Legal Identifiers - **LexML ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-12-10;6399` (unique identifier in Brazil’s legal database). - **Publication:** Officially gazetted in Brasília, with the full text accessible via the Planalto portal. - **Language:** Exclusively in Brazilian Portuguese, reflecting Brazil’s official language policy. - **Legal Citation:** Referenced as **Lei nº 6399/1976** in judicial and legislative documents. ### Related Entities - **Brazil:** The law’s jurisdiction and primary subject, addressing the nation’s administrative and economic governance. - **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil:** The executive authority responsible for the law’s enactment and implementation. - **Ernesto Geisel:** Military president who sanctioned the law, overseeing its integration into the broader regulatory framework of the era. ### Access and Transparency The law’s full text is publicly available via the **Planalto government portal** (`https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6399.htm`), ensuring compliance with Brazil’s transparency laws. As a **statute**, it is classified as a public domain document under Brazilian copyright law, reflecting the principle that legal texts are freely accessible to the public. ### Comparative Context Law No. 6399 exemplifies the **statute** as a legal category, functioning as a written document that creates binding law. Unlike broader “legislation” or “legal acts,” this statute served as the formal manifestation of statutory law, distinct from regulatory decrees or judicial interpretations. Its structure and purpose align with global definitions of statutes, as documented in sources like the *Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia* and *Schema.org’s Legislation class*. ### Educational and Cultural Impact The law is referenced in academic and legal studies on Brazilian administrative law, particularly in analyses of military-era governance. It is cataloged in institutions like the National Library of Brazil and cited in historical accounts of Brazil’s economic development. Its provisions are studied in the context of state interventionism and the transition to democratic governance post-1985. ### Associated Reforms The law’s enactment coincided with broader administrative reforms under the military government, including the creation of state-owned enterprises and infrastructure programs. It complemented economic policies like the Second National Development Plan (PND II), which prioritized industrial growth and export expansion. These initiatives collectively shaped Brazil’s economic trajectory, with lasting effects on public sector organization and fiscal policy. ### Conclusion Law No. 6399 of December 10, 1976, stands as a critical artifact of Brazil’s military-era governance, embodying the regime’s approach to centralized administration and economic planning. Its provisions, though amended over time, influenced the development of Brazil’s administrative legal framework, ensuring its place in the nation’s juridical history. The law’s emphasis on authorization, investment, and institutional structure underscores its role in shaping the relationship between the state and society during a transformative period in Brazilian history. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-12-10;6399) 2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=6399&ano=1976&data=10/12/1976&ato=416ATUq50MnRVTb93)