# Law No. 7209 of July 11, 1984

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105650259](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105650259)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-7209-of-july-11-1984

## Summary
**Law No. 7209 of July 11, 1984** (Portuguese: *Lei nº 7209, de 11 de julho de 1984*) is a Brazilian federal statute that amends the nation's Penal Code. Officially promulgated by President João Figueiredo in Brasília, the law modifies provisions of Decree-Law 2.848 of 1940. It serves as a formal legal instrument within the Federative Republic of Brazil, applying to all national jurisdictions.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 7209, de 11 de julho de 1984.
- **Type of Instrument:** Statute (formal written document creating law).
- **Date of Promulgation:** July 11, 1984.
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil; signed by President João Figueiredo.
- **Primary Function:** Alters provisions of Decree-Law 2.848 (December 7, 1940), known as the Penal Code (*Código Penal*).
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Publication Location:** Brasília.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 7209/1984.
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1984-07-11;7209`.
- **Official URL:** Available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1980-1988/l7209.htm`.
- **Subject Matter:** Device (Law), Change (Alteration), and Literary Redaction.

## FAQs
**What specific legal code does Law No. 7209/1984 modify?**
This statute amends the Brazilian Penal Code (*Código Penal*), which was originally established by Decree-Law 2.848 on December 7, 1940. It specifically alters devices and provisions within this foundational criminal legal framework.

**Who signed Law No. 7209 into effect?**
The law was promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, specifically under the administration of President João Figueiredo. It was officially enacted on July 11, 1984.

**Where is the official text of Law No. 7209 accessible?**
The full text is hosted on the official Brazilian government portal at the Planalto website (`https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1980-1988/l7209.htm`). It is also indexed under the identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1984-07-11;7209` in the LexML Brazil system.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 7209 matters because it represents a specific, authoritative update to Brazil's Penal Code (Decree-Law 2.848), which is the primary statute governing criminal law and procedure in the country. By altering the "devices" and "literary redaction" of this 1940 code, the law refines the definition and application of criminal justice in Brazil. As a federal statute, it is a manifestation of statutory law that binds the entire national territory. Its promulgation by President João Figueiredo situates it historically within the final years of Brazil's military dictatorship, a period of significant legal and political transition leading up to the 1988 Constitution. The law ensures that the legal norms governing society are formally documented, accessible, and enforceable.

## Notable For
- **Amending the Penal Code:** Specifically targets and modifies Decree-Law 2.848 (December 7, 1940), the core criminal code of Brazil.
- **Promulgation Authority:** Enacted by President João Figueiredo, the last president of the military regime, reflecting the executive legal framework of the 1980s.
- **Federal Scope:** Applies to the entire jurisdiction of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Standardized Identification:** Uniquely identified in the LexML Brazil legal documentation system with the URN `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1984-07-11;7209`.

## Body

### Legal Definition and Classification
Law No. 7209 is classified as a **statute**, defined as a formal written document that creates law. It functions as a "legal norm" and is a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." As a manifestation of statutory law, it resulted from the legislative process and serves as the official record of the changes enacted by the Brazilian government. In the context of semantic web standards, it is equivalent to the `https://schema.org/Legislation` class.

### Subject Matter and Amendment Targets
The primary subject of Law No. 7209 is the **alteration of legal devices**. It explicitly modifies **Decree-Law 2.848 of December 7, 1940**, widely known as the **Brazilian Penal Code** (*Código Penal*). The law's digest specifies that it "Alters devices of Decree-Law 2.848... and provides other measures." This involves both substantive changes to the law ("change") and updates to the text's wording ("literary redaction").

### Promulgation and Political Context
The statute was approved and promulgated on **July 11, 1984**, by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The act of promulgation was performed by **João Figueiredo**, who served as the President of Brazil at the time. This places the law within the historical context of the **Federative Republic of Brazil**, specifically during the transitional period leading toward the re-democratization of the country, which culminated in the 1988 Constitution.

### Jurisdiction and Publication
The law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil**. It is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**, the official language of the country. The place of publication was **Brasília**, the federal capital of Brazil since 1960. As a federal statute, it has primacy throughout the national territory, superseding any conflicting local or state laws.

### Official Identifiers and Access
Law No. 7209 is indexed within Brazilian legal databases using the following identifiers:
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1984-07-11;7209`
- **Legal Citation:** `Lei nº 7209/1984`

The official text is publicly accessible to ensure compliance and transparency. It is hosted on the **Planalto Palace** government website (`planalto.gov.br`), specifically within the Civil House (CCivil) section for laws from the 1980-1988 period. The direct URL for the law is `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1980-1988/l7209.htm`.

### Context of the Penal Code (Decree-Law 2.848)
The target of Law No. 7209, the **Penal Code (Decree-Law 2.848)**, is the primary statutory framework defining criminal offenses and penalties in Brazil. Promulgated in 1940, it is a cornerstone of the Brazilian legal system. Law No. 7209 serves as one of the many legislative acts that have updated this code over the decades to reflect changing social norms and legal interpretations. The "statute" format ensures these changes are formally recorded as public domain documents, owned by the public they govern.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1984-07-11;7209)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=7209&ano=1984&data=11/07/1984&ato=d5fQTUU9EeBpWT5f3)
3. LexML Brasil