# Law No. 7152 of December 1, 1983

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105650083](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105650083)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-7152-of-december-1-1983

## Summary
Law No. 7152 of December 1, 1983, is a Brazilian statute enacted to establish the Ministry of the Navy (Ministério da Marinha) and outline organizational structures for military personnel. Promulgated during the presidency of João Figueiredo, it amended previous legislation to formalize naval administration and operational frameworks. This law remains a foundational legal document in Brazil’s military and administrative history.

## Key Facts
- **Enactment Date:** December 1, 1983.
- **Jurisdiction:** Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Approved By:** President João Figueiredo (military government era).
- **Primary Purpose:** Creation of the Ministry of the Navy and regulation of naval officials.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 7152/1983.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Publication:** Officially published in Brasília, with the full text available via the Planalto Government Portal.
- **Amendments:** Modified provisions of Decree-Law No. 16 (1967) and Law No. 1,628 (1953).
- **Key Provisions:** Established organizational structure for naval personnel, defined roles of officials, and outlined administrative protocols.
- **Public Domain Status:** Not subject to copyright in jurisdictions like the U.S. and France under the "edict of government doctrine."

## FAQs
**What is the main purpose of Law No. 7152?**  
This law established the Ministry of the Navy in Brazil, reorganizing naval administration and regulating the roles of military personnel within the naval forces.

**Who enacted Law No. 7152?**  
The law was approved by President João Figueiredo during Brazil’s military government era (1964–1985) and promulgated on December 1, 1983.

**What previous laws did it amend?**  
Law No. 7152 revised Decree-Law No. 16 (1967) and Law No. 1,628 (1953), updating naval organizational structures and personnel regulations.

**Is this law still in effect?**  
While the Ministry of the Navy was later dissolved in 1998 (via Complementary Law No. 43), Law No. 7152 remains a historically significant statute in Brazil’s legal framework.

**Why is this law notable?**  
It represents a key moment in Brazil’s military institutionalization and administrative reform during the 20th century, reflecting the government’s focus on naval organization during the military regime.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 7152 is significant for its role in shaping Brazil’s naval administration during a period of military governance. By establishing the Ministry of the Navy, it centralized naval operations and personnel management, contributing to the institutional framework of Brazil’s armed forces. The law also exemplifies the legislative processes of the military regime, which prioritized structural reforms to consolidate authority. Its amendments to earlier laws highlight the evolving legal strategies of the government to adapt military infrastructure to contemporary needs. Today, it serves as a historical reference for scholars studying Brazil’s military history and administrative law.

## Notable For
- **Establishment of the Ministry of the Navy:** Centralized naval administration under a dedicated ministry.
- **Military Governance Context:** Enacted during Brazil’s 1964–1985 military dictatorship, reflecting regime priorities.
- **Amendment of Precedent Laws:** Updated Decree-Law No. 16 (1967) and Law No. 1,628 (1953) to modernize naval protocols.
- **Public Domain Accessibility:** Freely accessible in jurisdictions like the U.S. and France, ensuring transparency of legal history.
- **Historical Significance:** A key statute in Brazil’s 20th-century military institutionalization.

## Body

### Enactment and Legal Context
Law No. 7152 was promulgated on December 1, 1983, under President João Figueiredo, the last military leader of Brazil’s 1964–1985 dictatorship. The law emerged during a period of controlled political transition, as the regime sought to institutionalize military structures amid gradual democratization. It was published in Brasília, the federal capital, and its text is archived in the LexML Brazil database (URN: `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1983-12-01;7152`).

### Key Provisions and Reforms
The statute’s primary objective was to create the **Ministry of the Navy** (Ministério da Marinha), formalizing its organizational hierarchy and operational mandates. Key provisions included:
- **Naval Administration:** Defined the ministry’s role in overseeing naval operations, logistics, and personnel management.
- **Personnel Regulations:** Established protocols for naval officials, including rank structures, duties, and disciplinary procedures.
- **Amendments to Prior Laws:** Revised Decree-Law No. 16 (1967) and Law No. 1,628 (1953) to align naval governance with contemporary military needs.

### Historical Significance and Legacy
Law No. 7152 reflects the military regime’s emphasis on institutionalizing armed forces branches as autonomous entities. The Ministry of the Navy operated until 1998, when it was dissolved under Complementary Law No. 43 as part of broader defense reforms. Despite its repeal, the 1983 law remains a critical reference for understanding Brazil’s military administration during the dictatorship era. Its provisions underscored the regime’s strategy to consolidate power through structured bureaucratic frameworks, leaving a lasting imprint on Brazil’s legal and military history.

### Accessibility and Legal Status
As an official government edict, Law No. 7152 is in the public domain in jurisdictions such as the United States and France under the "edict of government doctrine," which exempts legal texts from copyright restrictions. The full text is accessible via the Brazilian Government Portal (`https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1980-1988/l7152.htm`), ensuring transparency and scholarly access to this historical legislation.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1983-12-01;7152)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=7152&ano=1983&data=01/12/1983&ato=808QTSE50dBpWT86f)