# Law No. 6611 of December 7, 1978

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105650460](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105650460)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-6611-of-december-7-1978

## Summary
Law No. 6611 of December 7, 1978, is a Brazilian federal statute enacted by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President Ernesto Geisel. This legislation primarily governs the budget, financial resources, and organizational structure of the Government of the Federal District (GDF), establishing specific rules for its creation, management, and the allocation of funds. It serves as a formal written legal instrument that defines the operational framework and fiscal goals for the federal capital's administration.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 6611, de 7 de dezembro de 1978.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 6611/1978.
- **Publication Date:** December 7, 1978.
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil.
- **Country of Origin:** Brazil.
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies exclusively to Brazil.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Legal Classification:** Statute (a formal written document creating law).
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Promulgating Official:** Ernesto Geisel (served as President at the time of promulgation).
- **Main Subject Areas:** Budget (Orçamento), Composition (Composição), Creation (Criação), Government of the Federal District (Governo Do Distrito Federal), Financial Resources (Recursos Financeiros), Connection/Linkage (Vinculação), Budget Management Departments (Orgãos), Goals (Objetivo), and Activities (Atividade).
- **LexML Brazil Identifier:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1978-12-07;6611.
- **Official Online Source:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6611.htm.
- **Reference Source for Data:** https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1978-12-07;6611 (accessed 2021-01-28) and https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos (accessed 2021-02-17).

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 6611/1978?**
The law establishes the legal framework for the Government of the Federal District, specifically detailing its budget, financial resources, and organizational structure. It defines the goals, activities, and administrative bodies responsible for managing the district's public funds and operations.

**Who enacted this legislation and when?**
This statute was promulgated on December 7, 1978, by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. At the time of its approval, the acting President of Brazil was Ernesto Geisel.

**Where can the full text of this law be accessed?**
The official text is available online via the Brazilian government's Planalto portal at the specific URL for laws from 1970–1979. It is also indexed in the LexML Brazil system under the unique identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1978-12-07;6611.

**Does this law apply to the entire country or a specific region?**
While it is a federal law of Brazil, its specific subject matter focuses on the Government of the Federal District (GDF). It regulates the budgetary and administrative aspects specifically for the capital territory rather than all 26 states of the federation.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 6611/1978 is a critical piece of administrative legislation that ensures the financial and operational stability of the Federal District, Brazil's capital. By codifying the budget, resource allocation, and organizational hierarchy of the GDF, it provides the necessary legal certainty for the administration of the nation's political center. Without such specific statutes, the management of public funds and the execution of government activities in the capital would lack a clear statutory basis, potentially leading to administrative inefficiency or legal ambiguity. The law exemplifies the mechanism by which the Brazilian executive branch formalizes the governance structure of its unique federal district, distinguishing it from the states while integrating it into the national legal framework.

## Notable For
- **Specific Focus on the Federal District:** Unlike general federal laws, this statute is uniquely tailored to the administrative and fiscal needs of the Government of the Federal District.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during the military regime in Brazil (1964–1985), specifically under the presidency of Ernesto Geisel, reflecting the governance structures of that era.
- **Comprehensive Budgetary Scope:** It covers a wide array of fiscal elements including the creation of funds, linkage of resources, and the definition of specific activities and goals for the district.
- **Digital Preservation:** The law is fully digitized and accessible through the LexML Brazil project, ensuring long-term public access to this historical legal text.
- **Administrative Clarity:** It explicitly lists the "Budget Management Departments" (Orgãos) and defines their roles, providing a clear map of the district's administrative machinery.

## Body

### Legislative Identity and Classification
Law No. 6611 of December 7, 1978, is classified as a **statute**, which is defined as a formal written document that creates law. In the context of the Brazilian legal system, it falls under the category of federal legislation. The document serves as the official record of legal rules enacted by the government authority. It is an instance of a "legal term or legal concept" and functions as a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." The law is written in **Brazilian Portuguese** and is legally cited as **Lei nº 6611/1978**. Its unique identifier within the LexML Brazil system is **urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1978-12-07;6611**, which allows for precise digital referencing and retrieval.

### Enactment and Authority
The statute was approved and promulgated by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The specific determination method for its enactment was **promulgation**, which occurred on **December 7, 1978**. At the time of this legislative act, the head of state was **Ernesto Geisel**, who served as the President of Brazil. The law was officially published in **Brasília**, the capital of Brazil. The publication date is recorded as **1978-12-07**, marking the moment the law entered the public domain and became effective. The data regarding these facts was referenced from official government portals, including the Presidency's legislative archive and the LexML Brazil repository, with access dates noted in early 2021.

### Subject Matter and Scope
The primary focus of Law No. 6611/1978 is the **Government of the Federal District (GDF)**. It addresses several critical administrative and financial components:
- **Budget (Orçamento):** The law establishes the framework for the district's annual budget.
- **Financial Resources (Recursos Financeiros):** It details the money available to the government and the rules for their utilization.
- **Creation (Criação):** It outlines the legal basis for the creation of specific entities or funds within the district.
- **Composition (Composição):** It defines the makeup of the government's administrative bodies.
- **Connection/Linkage (Vinculação):** It specifies how different financial resources are linked to specific purposes or departments.
- **Budget Management Departments (Orgãos):** It lists the specific organs responsible for managing the budget.
- **Goals (Objetivo) and Activities (Atividade):** It sets forth the strategic objectives and the specific activities the government is mandated to perform.

These subjects are not merely abstract concepts but are legally binding components that dictate how the Federal District operates financially and administratively.

### Jurisdiction and Applicability
The law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil**. While it is a federal statute, its operational scope is specifically directed toward the **Government of the Federal District**. This distinction is vital because the Federal District is a unique entity in Brazil, not belonging to any state but directly administered by the federal government. The law ensures that the capital city has a dedicated legal framework for its governance, separate from the states but integrated into the national legal system. The language of the work is **Brazilian Portuguese**, ensuring that the legal text is accessible to the local administration and the public within the jurisdiction.

### Digital Access and Preservation
In the modern era, Law No. 6611/1978 is preserved and made accessible through digital archives. The full text is available at the official Planalto government website: **https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6611.htm**. This URL provides the authoritative version of the law. Additionally, the law is indexed in the **LexML Brazil** project, a national initiative to standardize and provide open access to legal data. The LexML identifier **urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1978-12-07;6611** serves as a persistent link to the document, ensuring that researchers, legal professionals, and citizens can reliably locate the statute regardless of changes in website structures. The data sources for this entry include references from January and February 2021, confirming the ongoing maintenance and accessibility of the document in digital repositories.

### Historical and Administrative Context
Enacted in 1978, this law reflects the administrative priorities of Brazil during the late military dictatorship period. The focus on budget management, organizational composition, and the specific goals of the Federal District indicates a period of structured governance aimed at stabilizing the capital's administration. The involvement of President Ernesto Geisel highlights the centralization of power in the executive branch during this era. The law's detailed breakdown of "Orgãos" (departments) and "Atividade" (activities) suggests a comprehensive approach to public administration, aiming to define clear lines of responsibility and resource allocation. This level of detail is characteristic of statutes designed to manage complex governmental operations in a federal capital.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1978-12-07;6611)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=6611&ano=1978&data=07/12/1978&ato=052k3ZU1UerRVTc92)