# Law No. 7257 of November 28, 1984

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105650222](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105650222)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-7257-of-november-28-1984

## Summary
Law No. 7257 of November 28, 1984, is a Brazilian statute that fixed the effective personnel of the Military Police of the Federal Territory of Roraima and established related provisions. Enacted during the government of President João Figueiredo, it addressed administrative structuring in the territory, which later became a state in 1988. This law reflects Brazil’s legal framework for managing military policing in strategic regions.

## Key Facts
- **Title:** Lei nº 7257, de 28 de novembro de 1984  
- **Country:** Brazil  
- **Approved by:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil (President João Figueiredo)  
- **Publication Date:** November 28, 1984  
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília  
- **Main Subjects:** Military police, Roraima, military personnel quotas  
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 7257/1984  
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1984-11-28;7257`  
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese  
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal Territory of Roraima (now Roraima state)  
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during Brazil’s military regime (1964–1985)  

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 7257?**  
This law established the personnel quotas for the Military Police of the Federal Territory of Roraima, ensuring organizational structure for public safety in the region.  

**Who enacted Law No. 7257?**  
It was approved by President João Figueiredo, who governed Brazil under the military regime from 1979 to 1985.  

**Where does this law apply?**  
The law specifically applied to the Federal Territory of Roraima, which gained statehood in 1988 under the 1988 Constitution.  

**Where can the full text of the law be accessed?**  
The official text is available via the Brazilian government portal at [https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1980-1988/l7257.htm](https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1980-1988/l7257.htm).  

**Why was this law significant for Roraima?**  
It formalized the Military Police’s structure in the territory, a critical step in institutionalizing public security as Roraima transitioned toward statehood.  

## Why It Matters
Law No. 7257 is pivotal for understanding Brazil’s administrative and security policies in its northern territories during the military regime. By defining the Military Police’s personnel framework in Roraima, the law supported governance in a sparsely populated but strategically important border region. Its enactment underscores the broader effort to consolidate federal control and institutionalize public safety structures in areas slated for statehood. This law remains a reference for legal historians studying Brazil’s territorial administration and the evolution of its military policing institutions.

## Notable For
- **Structuring Military Police in Roraima:** First formal legislation establishing personnel quotas for the force in the territory.  
- **Transition to Statehood:** Played a role in Roraima’s institutional development ahead of its 1988 statehood.  
- **Military Regime Policy:** Reflects administrative priorities of Brazil’s 1964–1985 military government.  
- **Border Region Governance:** Highlighted federal attention to security in northern Brazil during the Cold War era.  

## Body

### Legal Context and Enactment
Law No. 7257 was promulgated on November 28, 1984, by President João Figueiredo, the last military leader of Brazil’s 1964–1985 regime. It falls under the category of **statute** (a formal written legal document) and is classified under Brazilian law as a legislative act. The law’s digest explicitly states its purpose: *“Fixa o efetivo da Polícia Militar do Território Federal de Roraima, e da outras providências”* (“Fixes the effective personnel of the Military Police of the Federal Territory of Roraima, and provides other provisions”).

### Historical and Administrative Significance
At the time of enactment, Roraima was a **Federal Territory** (not yet a state), having been separated from Amazonas in 1943 due to strategic border concerns. Law No. 7257 addressed the need for a structured security force in this remote region, which shares borders with Venezuela and Guyana. The law’s focus on military police personnel reflects broader efforts to assert federal authority and stabilize governance in Brazil’s northernmost territories during the military regime.

### Key Provisions
- **Personnel Quotas:** Established specific staffing levels for the Military Police of Roraima, including officer and enlisted ranks.  
- **Organizational Structure:** Defined roles and command hierarchies within the force to align with federal military policing standards.  
- **Jurisdictional Scope:** Applied exclusively to the Federal Territory of Roraima, emphasizing its unique administrative status.  

### Impact on Roraima’s Statehood
Although Roraima became a state in 1988 under Brazil’s new constitution, Law No. 7257 laid early groundwork for institutional governance in the region. The law’s provisions influenced subsequent state-level legislation on public security, ensuring continuity in military police operations post-statehood. This continuity remains relevant, as Roraima’s Military Police continue to operate under frameworks traceable to this 1984 statute.

### Current Status and Accessibility
The law remains valid and is cataloged in Brazil’s legal database under LexML ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1984-11-28;7257`. Its text is freely accessible via the Brazilian government’s official portal, consistent with Brazil’s policy of public domain access to statutory law. As a historical document, it is studied by scholars examining Brazil’s military-era governance and the development of its northern territories.

### Related Entities and Context
- **Roraima:** Transitioned from a federal territory to a state on October 5, 1988, under the 1988 Constitution.  
- **Military Police in Brazil:** A hybrid military-civilian force responsible for public safety, with state-level autonomy post-1988.  
- **João Figueiredo:** Brazil’s last military president, whose administration oversaw gradual political liberalization (*Abertura*) and territorial policy reforms.  

This law exemplifies the intersection of national security policy, territorial administration, and institutional development during a transformative period in Brazilian history.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1984-11-28;7257)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=7257&ano=1984&data=28/11/1984&ato=062IzaU9EeBpWT1ce)
3. LexML Brasil