# Law No. 6476 of December 1, 1977

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105650472](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105650472)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-6476-of-december-1-1977

## Summary
**Law No. 6476 of December 1, 1977** (Portuguese: *Lei nº 6.476*) is a Brazilian federal statute enacted during the presidency of Ernesto Geisel. It serves as a legal authorization for the Federal Government to transfer ownership of public land (terrenos) to specific municipalities and states, most notably involving the municipality of **Catolé do Rocha** in the state of **Paraíba** and the state of **Pernambuco**. As a formal statute, it constitutes a written manifestation of statutory law applicable throughout the Federative Republic of Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 6.476, de 1 de dezembro de 1977.
- **Promulgation Date:** December 1, 1977.
- **Approval Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Signing Authority:** Ernesto Geisel (President of Brazil, 1974–1979).
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (Federative Republic of Brazil).
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Legal Classification:** Statute (formal written document creating law).
- **Lexml Identifier:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1977-12-01;6476`.
- **Primary Subjects:** Transfer of property, Authorization, Donation (Gift), Municipal Prefecture, Educational Institutions.
- **Geographic Focus:** State of Paraíba (PB), State of Pernambuco (PE), Municipality of Catolé do Rocha.
- **Publication Place:** Brasília (Capital of Brazil).
- **Official URL:** Available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6476.htm`.

## FAQs
**Who signed Law No. 6476 into effect?**
The law was approved and promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, with Ernesto Geisel serving as the signing authority on December 1, 1977.

**What is the primary function of this law?**
The law functions as a statutory authorization for the Federal Government (União Federal) to transfer ownership of public land. It specifically facilitates donations and transfers to municipal prefectures and educational institutions in states like Paraíba and Pernambuco.

**What specific locations are affected by this law?**
The law explicitly mentions the State of Paraíba (specifically the municipality of Catolé do Rocha) and the State of Pernambuco as subjects of the land transfers.

**Is this document copyrighted?**
No. As a statute (edict of government), it is in the public domain in the United States and generally in Brazil, ensuring public accessibility to the legal text.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 6476 matters as a concrete example of federal administrative law in Brazil during the military dictatorship era (1964–1985). It represents the exercise of sovereign authority to manage and dispose of Union (Federal) assets, specifically through the transfer of "terrenos" (public lands) to local municipalities. By authorizing these transfers, the law facilitated local development and administrative adjustments in the Northeast region of Brazil (Paraíba and Pernambuco). It serves as a historical legal artifact documenting the specific jurisdictional boundaries and property management decisions of the Geisel administration. Furthermore, it exemplifies the legal definition of a statute: a formal, written rule that operates as the "manifestation of statutory law" within the Brazilian legal system.

## Notable For
- **Specific Land Authorization:** Notable for explicitly authorizing the transfer and donation of federal lands to specific local entities (e.g., Catolé do Rocha).
- **Geisel Era Legislation:** Represents a legislative act during the administration of President Ernesto Geisel, a period marked by a gradual political opening (*distensão*).
- **Northeast Regional Focus:** Specifically targets administrative needs in the Brazilian Northeast (Paraíba and Pernambuco).
- **Standard Legal Identifier:** Cataloged under the Lexml system with the URN `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1977-12-01;6476`, ensuring its persistent identification in the Brazilian legal semantic web.
- **Statutory Classification:** Serves as a definitive example of a "statute" — a formal written document that creates law, distinct from common law or customary law.

## Body

### Legislative Definition and Context
Law No. 6476/1977 is classified as a **statute** (Portuguese: *Lei*). In the context of legal theory, a statute is a formal written document enacted to create law. It acts as a manifestation of statutory law and is the primary instrument through which the Brazilian government exercises authority. As an "instance of" a statute, Law No. 6476 serves as a concrete rule composed of legal norms. It follows the legislative process (proposition of draft laws) and was caused by the formal act of legislation.

Being a government edict, this law falls under the "edict of government doctrine," meaning it is a public domain document. This ensures that the legal mandates contained within—specifically regarding land transfer—are freely owned by the public and not subject to copyright restrictions.

### Enactment and Authority
The law was enacted on **December 1, 1977**, in **Brasília**, the federal capital of Brazil.
- **Approving Body:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil (*Presidência da República Federativa do Brasil*).
- **Head of State:** The law was signed by **Ernesto Geisel**, who served as President of Brazil from 1974 to 1979.
- **Legal Citation:** It is formally cited as *Lei nº 6476/1977*.

### Subject Matter and Provisions
The core content of Law No. 6476 revolves around the **transfer** and **donation** of assets. The structured data indicates the following key subjects:
- **Authorization (*Autorização*):** The law grants legal permission for specific actions.
- **Transfer (*Transferência*):** It deals with the movement of property rights.
- **Gift/Donation (*Doação*):** The mechanism of transfer is characterized as a donation.
- **Federal Government (*União Federal*):** The entity transferring the assets.
- **Municipal Prefecture (*Prefeitura Municipal*):** A primary recipient or beneficiary.
- **Educational Institution (*Estabelecimento De Ensino*):** Another entity type implicated in the transfer.

The law specifically addresses the disposition of **land** (*Terreno*) involving the **Federal Government of Brazil**.

### Geographic and Jurisdictional Scope
While the law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil** as a whole, its main subject focuses on specific political subdivisions within the Northeast region:
1.  **State of Paraíba (PB):** The law lists "Estado Da Paraiba" as a main subject.
2.  **Catolé do Rocha:** A specific municipality in Paraíba cited in the law.
3.  **State of Pernambuco (PE):** The law also lists "Estado De Pernambuco" as a subject.

This geographic specificity indicates that the statute was likely targeted administrative legislation aimed at resolving property issues or funding public works (such as educational facilities) in these specific areas.

### Official Identifiers and Accessibility
To ensure retrievability and verification, Law No. 6476 is indexed under several official systems:
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1977-12-01;6476`. This URN (Uniform Resource Name) provides a standardized identifier for the legal document.
- **Planalto Archive:** The full text is accessible via the official portal of the Presidency of the Republic at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6476.htm`.
- **WikiProject:** The entry is curated under "WikiProject Brazilian Laws," indicating its relevance to collaborative legal knowledge bases.

### Jurisdiction: The Federative Republic of Brazil
The law operates within the legal framework of **Brazil**.
- **Government Structure:** Brazil is a Federal Republic with a presidential system. At the time of this law's enactment (1977), the country was under a military regime, though the administrative structure of the Union (Federal Government), States (like Paraíba and Pernambuco), and Municipalities (like Catolé do Rocha) remained intact.
- **Capital:** The place of publication was **Brasília**, which became the capital in 1960.
- **Legal System:** As a civil law country, Brazil relies heavily on statutes (like Lei nº 6.476) as the primary source of law, distinct from judge-made law (common law). This law functions as a specific node in that broader statutory framework.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1977-12-01;6476)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=6476&ano=1977&data=01/12/1977&ato=652kXSU9UNnRVTdc0)