# Law No. 7251 of November 19, 1984

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105650389](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105650389)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-7251-of-november-19-1984

## Summary
Law No. 7251 of November 19, 1984 (Lei nº 7251/1984) is a Brazilian federal statute that amends the Penal Code (Decree-Law 2.848 of December 7, 1940). Enacted during the presidency of João Figueiredo, the law specifically provides a new wording for Article 245 of the Penal Code, addressing matters related to crimes, legal norms, and legislative changes. It applies to the jurisdiction of Brazil and is available in Brazilian Portuguese.

## Key Facts
- **Title:** Lei nº 7251, de 19 de novembro de 1984
- **Type:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Country:** Brazil
- **Publication Date:** November 19, 1984
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil (promulgated by João Figueiredo)
- **Subject Matter:** Crime, change (alteration), legal norm
- **Law Digest:** Provides a new wording to Article 245 of Decree-Law 2.848 (Código Penal), dated December 7, 1940
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies to Brazil
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 7251/1984
- **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1984-11-19;7251
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1980-1988/l7251.htm
- **WikiProject:** On focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 7251/1984?**
The law's primary purpose is to amend the Brazilian Penal Code (Decree-Law 2.848 of 1940) by providing a new wording for Article 245, addressing issues related to crimes and legal norms.

**Who promulgated Law No. 7251/1984?**
The law was promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President João Figueiredo on November 19, 1984.

**Where can the full text of Law No. 7251/1984 be accessed?**
The full text of the law is available at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1980-1988/l7251.htm.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 7251 of November 19, 1984 holds significance as a legislative amendment to Brazil's foundational criminal code, the Penal Code of 1940 (Decree-Law 2.848). By modifying Article 245, the statute reflects an update to the legal framework governing criminal behavior in Brazil. As a statute, it represents a formal written manifestation of statutory law, creating legal norms that apply to the entire Brazilian jurisdiction. This law is part of the broader body of Brazilian federal legislation and is categorized under the WikiProject Brazilian Laws, indicating its relevance to legal documentation and governance in Brazil. Its enactment during the final year of Brazil's military dictatorship (which ended in 1985) also places it within a specific historical context of legal reforms.

## Notable For
- **Amendment to the Brazilian Penal Code:** Directly modifies Article 245 of Decree-Law 2.848 (1940), the codified set of criminal laws in Brazil.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted on November 19, 1984, during the presidency of João Figueiredo, the last president of the military regime.
- **LexML Identifier:** Possesses a unique URN (Uniform Resource Name) in the LexML Brazil system: urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1984-11-19;7251.
- **Digital Accessibility:** The full text is publicly accessible via the official Planalto Palace website.

## Body

### Legislative Context and Classification
Law No. 7251 of November 19, 1984 is classified as a **statute**, a formal written document that creates law. As a subclass of written work, document, and rule, it serves as a manifestation of statutory law and contains legal norms. The law was created through legislation and is a type of legal act. In the context of copyright, statutes in Brazil, like in the United States and France, are generally in the public domain as official legal documents.

### Enactment and Promulgation
The statute was approved and promulgated by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil** on November 19, 1984. The head of state at the time was **João Figueiredo**, who served as the 30th president of Brazil. The law was published in **Brasília**, the federal capital of Brazil, which has been the seat of the federal government since 1960.

### Amendment to the Penal Code
The primary function of Law No. 7251/1984 is to provide a new wording (**nova redação**) for **Article 245** of **Decree-Law 2.848**, dated December 7, 1940, known as the **Código Penal** (Penal Code). The Penal Code is the primary codification of criminal law in Brazil. By amending this article, the law alters specific provisions related to criminal offenses, though the source material does not specify the exact content of Article 245 or the nature of the amendment.

### Subject Matter
According to its legal digest and structured properties, the law addresses three main subjects:
- **Crime:** The law pertains to criminal acts as defined in the Penal Code.
- **Change:** The law functions as an alteration to existing legislation.
- **Legal Norm:** The law establishes or modifies legal norms within the Brazilian legal system.

### Jurisdiction and Language
Law No. 7251/1984 applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil** (officially the Federative Republic of Brazil), a country in South America. The official text of the law is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**, the sole official language of Brazil.

### Digital and Legal Identifiers
The law is indexed in several digital and legal systems:
- **LexML Brazil ID:** The law is assigned the URN `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1984-11-19;7251`, which provides a structured identifier for legislative documents.
- **Legal Citation:** It is formally cited as **Lei nº 7251/1984**.
- **Official URL:** The full text is available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1980-1988/l7251.htm`.

### Relation to Broader Legal Framework
As a federal statute, Law No. 7251/1984 is part of the broader legal framework of Brazil. The Brazilian legal system operates under the **Constitution of Brazil**, with the current version effective as of October 5, 1988 (promulgated after Law 7251/1984). The legislative body responsible for creating federal laws is the **National Congress of Brazil**, which consists of the Federal Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. However, the specific legislative process for this particular law is not detailed in the provided material. The law is included in the **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, a collaborative effort to document Brazilian legislation on Wikimedia projects.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1984-11-19;7251)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=7251&ano=1984&data=19/11/1984&ato=44ac3aU9EeBpWTa79)
3. LexML Brasil