# Law No. 7181 of December 20, 1983

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105650213](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105650213)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-7181-of-december-20-1983

## Summary
Law No. 7181 of December 20, 1983, is a Brazilian statute that establishes legal norms and regulations primarily concerning the Ministry of Mines and Energy. Approved by President João Figueiredo, this law serves as a formal written document creating statutory law within the jurisdiction of Brazil, specifically addressing matters of credit, fines, and administrative obligations.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 7181, de 20 de dezembro de 1983.
- **Date of Approval:** December 20, 1983.
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, specifically promulgated by João Figueiredo.
- **Jurisdiction:** Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Classification:** Statute (formal written document that creates law).
- **Primary Subjects:** Ministry of Mines and Energy, credit, fines, payments, obligations, and validity.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 7181/1983.
- **Language of Work:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil.
- **Digital Identifier:** LEXML Brazil ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1983-12-20;7181`.
- **Official Source:** Available via the Presidency of the Republic (Planalto) portal.
- **Project Affiliation:** WikiProject Brazilian Laws.

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 7181?**
Law No. 7181 functions as a statute to regulate specific administrative and financial activities, focusing on credits, fines, and payments. It establishes the legal norms and obligations that apply to the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) and defines the hypotheses under which these rules are enforced.

**Who was responsible for the enactment of this law?**
The law was approved and promulgated on December 20, 1983, by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. At the time of its enactment, the presidency was held by João Figueiredo, who signed the document in Brasília.

**How is this law identified in legal databases?**
This legislation is indexed in the LEXML Brazil system with the unique identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1983-12-20;7181`. It is also officially cataloged and made available through the Planalto government website under the legal citation Lei nº 7181/1983.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 7181 is a significant instrument of Brazilian statutory law that provides the legal framework for the Ministry of Mines and Energy. By codifying rules regarding credits, fines, and "recolhimento" (collection), it ensures that government authority in these sectors is exercised through documented, enforceable norms rather than abstract theory. As a statute, it represents the tangible manifestation of the rule of law in Brazil, offering a definitive reference point for administrators and citizens regarding their legal obligations and the consequences of non-compliance. Its existence within the broader Brazilian legal system—a federal republic with a complex history of constitutional development—highlights the continuity of administrative regulation in the country's energy and mineral sectors.

## Notable For
- **Sectoral Regulation:** Specifically targets the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), one of Brazil's critical administrative bodies.
- **Executive Promulgation:** One of the laws enacted during the presidency of João Figueiredo in the early 1980s.
- **Legal Classification:** Categorized as a formal "statute," a subclass of written work and rule that serves as the official record of legal rules.
- **Standardized Indexing:** Recognized by the LEXML Brazil project, which provides persistent identifiers for Brazilian legislation.
- **Public Domain Status:** As a legislative enactment of the Brazilian government, it serves as a public document intended for open access and governance.

## Body

### Legal Classification and Nature
Law No. 7181 is classified as a **statute**, which is defined as a formal written document that creates law. In the hierarchy of legal concepts, it is an instance of a "legal term or legal concept" and a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." As a statute, Law No. 7181 is the concrete manifestation of statutory law, composed of various "legal norms." It follows the stage of a "draft law" and was brought into effect through the act of legislation.

### Subject Matter and Scope
The law covers a wide range of administrative and financial subjects. Its primary focus is the **Ministry of Mines and Energy** (Ministério de Minas e Energia). Specific topics addressed within the text include:
*   **Credit (Créditos):** Regulations regarding financial credits.
*   **Fines (Multa):** The establishment of penalties for non-compliance.
*   **Payments (Pagamento):** Rules governing the settlement of financial obligations.
*   **Obligations (Obrigatoriedade):** Mandatory legal requirements for entities under its jurisdiction.
*   **Recolhimento:** Procedures for the collection of funds or resources.
*   **Validity (Vigência) and Prorogation (Prorrogação):** The timeframe for the law's effectiveness and the conditions for its extension.
*   **Hypothesis (Hipótese):** Specific legal scenarios or conditions under which the law applies.

### Historical and Geographic Context
The law was promulgated on **December 20, 1983**, in **Brasília**, the capital of Brazil. At the time, Brazil was a federal republic under the presidency of **João Figueiredo**. This period precedes the current 1988 Constitution of Brazil but remains part of the country's statutory record. Brazil, the largest country in South America, utilizes a civil law system where statutes like Law No. 7181 are the primary source of legal authority.

### Digital Governance and Accessibility
Law No. 7181 is integrated into modern digital legal frameworks:
*   **LEXML Brazil:** It is identified by the URN `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1983-12-20;7181`, ensuring its traceability in the national database of legislation and jurisprudence.
*   **Planalto Portal:** The full text is maintained by the Presidency of the Republic at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1980-1988/l7181.htm`.
*   **WikiProject Brazilian Laws:** The law is a subject of focus for Wikimedia projects dedicated to documenting the Brazilian legal system.

### Relationship to Statutory Law
As a statute, Law No. 7181 shares characteristics with global legal standards. It is equivalent to the `https://schema.org/Legislation` class used in structured data. Like statutes in other jurisdictions such as the United States and France, Brazilian laws are generally considered to be in the public domain as "edicts of government," ensuring that the public has unrestrained access to the rules they must follow. This law serves as a "part of" the broader system of Brazilian law and legal acts.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1983-12-20;7181)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=7181&ano=1983&data=20/12/1983&ato=eebMTVE50dBpWTe5f)