# Law No. 6402 of December 10, 1976

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105659656](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105659656)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-6402-of-december-10-1976

## Summary
Law No. 6402 of December 10, 1976, officially titled "Lei nº 6402, de 10 de dezembro de 1976," is a Brazilian statute promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President Ernesto Geisel. This federal law, published in Brasília, primarily addresses the regulation, composition, actuation, change, organization, and activity related to political parties in Brazil. It is a formal written document that creates law, applying specifically to the jurisdiction of Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 6402, de 10 de dezembro de 1976
- **Aliases:** Lei nº 6402, de 10 de dezembro de 1976
- **Classification:** An instance of a statute, which is a formal written document that creates law.
- **Country:** Brazil
- **Approval and Promulgation:** Approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil and promulgated by Ernesto Geisel on December 10, 1976.
- **Publication Date:** December 10, 1976
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil
- **Main Subjects:** Regulamentation (Regulamentação), content (Composição), political party (Partido Politico), Actuation (Atuação), change (Alteração), arranging (Organização), and activity (Atividade).
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies to Brazil.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 6402/1976
- **Online Availability:** Accessible at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6402.htm
- **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-12-10;6402
- **Wikimedia Project:** Included on the focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws.

## FAQs
**What is the official name of Law No. 6402 of December 10, 1976?**
The official title of this legal document is "Lei nº 6402, de 10 de dezembro de 1976." It is also recognized by the alias "Lei nº 6402, de 10 de dezembro de 1976."

**Who approved and promulgated this specific law?**
Law No. 6402 was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil and formally promulgated by President Ernesto Geisel on December 10, 1976.

**What are the primary subjects addressed by Law No. 6402?**
This law primarily focuses on the regulation, content, actuation, change, organization, and activity concerning political parties in Brazil. It covers aspects such as "Regulamentação," "Composição," "Partido Politico," "Atuação," "Alteração," "Organização," and "Atividade."

**Where and when was Law No. 6402 published, and in what language?**
Law No. 6402 was published in Brasília, Brazil, on December 10, 1976. The official text of the law is presented in Brazilian Portuguese.

**How is Law No. 6402 classified within the legal system?**
Law No. 6402 is classified as a statute, which is defined as a formal written document that creates law. Statutes are considered a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule" within legal terminology.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 6402 of December 10, 1976, matters significantly as a foundational Brazilian statute that directly shapes the operational framework of political parties within the country. As a formal written document, it serves as a concrete manifestation of statutory law, establishing critical guidelines for the regulation, composition, and activities of political entities. Its promulgation by the Presidency and publication in Brasília underscore its authoritative role in the Brazilian political and legal system. The law's inclusion in the WikiProject Brazilian Laws further emphasizes its importance for academic study and public understanding of Brazilian legislation, contributing to the historical and ongoing governance of political organizations in Brazil.

## Notable For
- **Specific Political Focus:** Notably dedicated to the regulation, composition, actuation, change, organization, and activity of political parties in Brazil.
- **Presidential Promulgation:** Promulgated by Ernesto Geisel, who was the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil at the time.
- **Official Legal Identification:** Identified with the specific legal citation Lei nº 6402/1976.
- **Digital Public Access:** Made publicly available through the official Brazilian government website (planalto.gov.br) and assigned a unique LexML Brazil ID (urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-12-10;6402).
- **Academic and Project Recognition:** Recognized as a significant legal document by its inclusion in the WikiProject Brazilian Laws, indicating its relevance to legal scholarship and public knowledge initiatives.

## Body

### Overview and Classification
Law No. 6402 of December 10, 1976, officially titled "Lei nº 6402, de 10 de dezembro de 1976," is a federal statute originating from Brazil. It is categorized as an instance of a "statute," which is fundamentally a formal written document designed to create law. Within the broader legal framework, a statute is taxonomically considered a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule," serving as the tangible manifestation of statutory law. This specific law is also known by its alias, "Lei nº 6402, de 10 de dezembro de 1976."

### Legislative Process and Publication Details
This Brazilian law was formally approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. It was promulgated by President Ernesto Geisel on December 10, 1976, the same date as its publication. The official place of publication was Brasília, the capital of Brazil. The authoritative text of the law is presented in Brazilian Portuguese. For public access, the law is available online at the Brazilian government's legislative portal, specifically at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6402.htm. It is uniquely identified by the LexML Brazil ID urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-12-10;6402 and is commonly cited in legal contexts as Lei nº 6402/1976.

### Main Subjects and Scope of the Law
The primary focus of Law No. 6402 of December 10, 1976, is centered on various aspects pertaining to political parties. Its main subjects encompass "Regulamentation" (Regulamentação), "content" (Composição), "political party" (Partido Politico), "Actuation" (Atuação), "change" (Alteração), "arranging" (Organização), and "activity" (Atividade). These designated areas indicate that the law was enacted to establish comprehensive rules and guidelines governing the formation, internal structure, operational conduct, modifications, organizational principles, and overall activities of political parties within the Brazilian political system.

### Context within Brazil
As a Brazilian law, Law No. 6402 is specifically applicable to the jurisdiction of Brazil, a federal republic situated in South America. Brazil, which achieved independence on September 7, 1822, and adopted its current constitution on October 5, 1988, possesses a rich and complex legal and political history. Statutes such as Law No. 6402 contribute to the extensive body of statutory law that governs the nation, operating in conjunction with the Constitution, executive orders, and other legal instruments. The country's legislative functions are carried out by the National Congress of Brazil, while the Supreme Federal Court (STF) serves as its highest judicial authority. The law's significance is further underscored by its inclusion on the focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws, highlighting its importance for scholarly and public understanding of Brazilian legislation.

### Relationship to the Concept of a Statute
Law No. 6402 serves as a concrete example of a "statute," a foundational legal concept. A statute is defined as a formal written document that creates law, encompassing a variety of legal instruments such as acts passed by legislatures, executive orders, and by-laws. It functions as the official and tangible record of legal rules enacted by a government or authority, thereby giving rise to statutory law. In numerous jurisdictions, including the United States and France, statutes are generally considered to be in the public domain, a principle often attributed to the "edict of government doctrine," which ensures broad public access to legal texts. The concept of a statute is widely recognized and extensively indexed across global knowledge bases and library systems, including Wikidata, the Library of Congress Authority ID (sh85127611), the Bibliothèque nationale de France (120485802), and Schema.org, where it is designated as an equivalent class to `https://schema.org/Legislation`. This classification reinforces Law No. 6402's role as a formal, documented, and universally understood legal instrument.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-12-10;6402)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=6402&ano=1976&data=10/12/1976&ato=d37MTUq50MnRVTcfd)