# Law No. 8556 of December 28, 1992

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105647459](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105647459)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-8556-of-december-28-1992

## Summary

Law No. 8556 of December 28, 1992 (Lei nº 8556, de 28 de dezembro de 1992) is a Brazilian federal statute enacted during the presidency of Itamar Franco, governing matters related to the federal budget, including budgetary adjustments (crédito adicional) and the Federal Government of Brazil (União Federal). This law represents a formal written document that creates law, classified as a statute under Brazilian legal taxonomy, and was promulgated and published in Brasília on December 28, 1992.

## Key Facts

- **Official Title:** Lei nº 8556, de 28 de dezembro de 1992
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 8556/1992
- **Country of Origin:** Brazil
- **Date of Enactment:** December 28, 1992
- **Promulgating Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **President at Time:** Itamar Franco (served 1992-1994)
- **Classification:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Primary Subject Matter:** Budget (Orçamento), Federal Government of Brazil (União Federal), Budgetary Adjustment (Crédito Adicional)
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (applies to the entire federative republic)
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília
- **LexML Brazil Identifier:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1992-12-28;8556
- **Official Source URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1989_1994/l8556.htm
- **Wikidata Description:** Brazilian law

## FAQs

**What is Law No. 8556 of December 28, 1992?**

Law No. 8556 of December 28, 1992 is a Brazilian federal statute (lei federal) that deals with budgetary matters of the Federal Government of Brazil. It was enacted on December 28, 1992, during President Itamar Franco's administration, and addresses the federal budget (orçamento) and provisions for additional budgetary credits (crédito adicional).

**Who enacted Law No. 8556/1992?**

The law was promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President Itamar Franco on December 28, 1992. Itamar Franco served as President of Brazil from 1992 to 1994, taking office after the impeachment of Fernando Collor de Mello.

**What is the subject matter of Law No. 8556/1992?**

The law's main subjects include the federal budget (orçamento), the Federal Government of Brazil (União Federal), and budgetary adjustments (crédito adicional). These provisions govern how the Brazilian federal government manages its finances, including the authorization and implementation of additional budget allocations beyond the originally approved budget.

**Where can Law No. 8556/1992 be accessed?**

The full text of Law No. 8556/1992 is available through the official Brazilian government legislation portal at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1989_1994/l8556.htm. It is also catalogued in the LexML Brazilian legal database under the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1992-12-28;8556.

**What type of legal document is Law No. 8556/1992?**

Law No. 8556/1992 is classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law. In the Brazilian legal system, a "lei" (law) is a legislative act passed by the National Congress and promulgated by the President. It is part of the hierarchy of norms, sitting below the Constitution but above other administrative acts.

**Is Law No. 8556/1992 still in force?**

The source material does not specify whether this law has been repealed, amended, or remains in force. As a federal statute from 1992, it would be subject to subsequent legislative changes, repeals, or consolidations into newer budget laws. Researchers should consult current Brazilian legislative databases for the most up-to-date legal status.

## Why It Matters

Law No. 8556 of December 28, 1992 matters as a concrete example of how the Brazilian federal government exercises its legislative and executive powers over public finances. Budgetary laws like this one are fundamental to democratic governance because they establish the legal framework for how government revenues are collected and allocated, ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.

During the early 1990s, Brazil was navigating a period of significant political transition following the impeachment of President Fernando Collor de Mello in 1992. President Itamar Franco's administration inherited complex economic challenges, including hyperinflation that had plagued the country for decades. Budgetary legislation from this period was critical to stabilizing the economy and establishing credible fiscal policies that would eventually contribute to the success of the Real Plan in 1994.

The law represents the intersection of several important legal concepts: statutory law (direito statutory), budgetary law (direito orçamentário), and administrative law (direito administrativo). By formalizing additional budgetary credits (crédito adicional), the law provides the legal mechanism for the Federal Government to respond to unforeseen expenditures or fiscal priorities that were not anticipated in the original annual budget law (Lei de Diretrizes Orçamentárias).

Furthermore, this law exemplifies the principle of legal certainty in public finance. By being formally published and catalogued in official databases like LexML and the official presidential legislation portal, the law ensures that citizens, businesses, and government entities can access and rely on its provisions. This accessibility is fundamental to the rule of law and good governance.

## Notable For

- **Historical Context:** Enacted during one of Brazil's most politically significant periods—the impeachment of a president and the subsequent Franco administration—making it part of Brazil's democratic consolidation in the early 1990s.

- **Official Digital Preservation:** Available through multiple official government portals, demonstrating Brazil's commitment to digital legal archiving and public access to legislation.

- **Legal Classification:** Classified as a statute (lei), representing a foundational category in Brazilian legal taxonomy that encompasses formal written documents creating law, including acts, executive orders, and by-laws.

- **Budgetary Significance:** Addresses core governmental functions related to the federal budget, representing the intersection of legislative authority over public finances and executive implementation.

- **LexML Integration:** Catalogued in LexML, Brazil's primary legal information system, ensuring long-term preservation and discoverability.

## Body

### Legislative Context and Historical Background

Law No. 8556 of December 28, 1992 was enacted during a pivotal moment in Brazilian political history. President Itamar Franco assumed office in 1992 following the impeachment of Fernando Collor de Mello, who resigned before being formally removed from office. This transitional period required careful management of Brazil's economic affairs, including the passage of budgetary legislation to fund government operations and public services.

The Brazilian legislative process involves the National Congress (Congresso Nacional), comprising the Federal Senate (Senado Federal) and the Chamber of Deputies (Câmara dos Deputados). Once passed by both houses and signed by the President, a law (lei) becomes binding legal norm applicable throughout the national territory. Law No. 8556/1992 represents one such legislative enactment, specifically addressing matters within the executive's budgetary competencies.

### Legal Classification and Taxonomy

In the structure of Brazilian law, Law No. 8556/1992 is classified as a statute (estatuto or lei), which constitutes a formal written document that creates law. This classification places it within the broader category of legislative acts that include acts (atos), executive orders (decretos), and by-laws (regulamentos). The statute is part of the hierarchy of norms, with the Constitution of 1988 at the apex, followed by complementary laws, ordinary laws, and delegated legislation.

The law's classification as a statute also connects it to the concept of statutory law (direito statutory), which encompasses all laws formally enacted through the legislative process. This contrasts with other sources of law such as jurisprudence (jurisprudência), doctrine (doutrina), and customary law (costume).

### Subject Matter: Federal Budget and Additional Credits

The primary subjects of Law No. 8556/1992 are the federal budget (orçamento), the Federal Government of Brazil (União Federal), and budgetary adjustments (crédito adicional). These concepts are central to public financial management in Brazil.

The federal budget in Brazil operates on an annual cycle, with the Lei de Diretrizes Orçamentárias (LDO) establishing guidelines, the Lei Orçamentária Anual (LOA) providing specific appropriations, and the Lei de Plurianual (PPA) setting multi-year planning. Additional budgetary credits (crédito adicional) represent supplementary appropriations authorized by law to address expenditures not foreseen in the original budget or to reallocate resources based on changing priorities.

The União Federal refers to the federal government as a legal entity, distinct from states, municipalities, and other public entities. As the national government, the União Federal has specific budgetary authorities and responsibilities established by the Constitution and implemented through laws like No. 8556/1992.

### Publication and Legal Effect

Law No. 8556/1992 was published in Brasília, the capital of Brazil since 1960. The law entered into force upon its publication, as is standard for Brazilian legislation unless a specific vacatio legis (delayed effective date) is provided. The official publication occurred through the Presidential Legislation Portal (Legislação Presidencial), ensuring formal dissemination to government agencies, courts, and citizens.

The law is formally cited as "Lei nº 8556, de 28 de dezembro de 1992" or abbreviated as "Lei nº 8556/1992." This citation format follows Brazilian legal conventions, where the law number is assigned sequentially and the date indicates the day, month, and year of enactment.

### Access and Preservation

The text of Law No. 8556/1992 is preserved in multiple official repositories. The primary source is the official website of the Presidency of the Republic (Presidência da República) at planalto.gov.br, specifically accessible at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1989_1994/l8556.htm. This portal contains the civil laws (leis civis) from 1989 to 1994, organized chronologically.

Additionally, the law is catalogued in LexML, Brazil's unified legal information system, under the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1992-12-28;8556. LexML serves as a comprehensive database for Brazilian legislation, providing standardized identifiers that facilitate citation, research, and legal automation.

### Relationship to Broader Legal Framework

Law No. 8556/1992 exists within a complex web of legal relationships. It is subordinate to the Constitution of Brazil (Constituição Federal de 1988), which establishes the fundamental principles of budgetary law, including the principles of unity, universality, and annuality of the budget. The law is also connected to other budgetary legislation, including the Constitution's Articles 165-169, which govern the budgetary process.

The law's enactment by President Itamar Franco represents the exercise of presidential authority granted by the Constitution. The President serves as both head of state and head of government in Brazil's presidential system, with the power to promulgate laws passed by Congress.

### Language and Jurisdiction

The law is written in Brazilian Portuguese, reflecting the official language of Brazil and the linguistic standard for all official government documents. The law applies to the entire territory of Brazil, which spans approximately 8.5 million square kilometers and comprises 26 states plus the Federal District.

As a federal law (lei federal), Law No. 8556/1992 is binding throughout the national territory, unlike state laws (leis estaduais) or municipal laws (leis municipais), which have more limited geographic application. This nationwide applicability is a defining characteristic of federal legislation in Brazil's federal republic system.

### Wikidata and Knowledge Organization

In knowledge organization systems, Law No. 8556/1992 is classified under the broader concept of "Brazilian law" (direito brasileiro) and the more specific category of "statute." This classification connects it to related legal concepts and enables cross-referencing with other Brazilian federal laws, state laws, and municipal legislation.

The law's inclusion in Wikidata and similar knowledge bases reflects the growing importance of structured legal data for research, artificial intelligence applications, and government transparency initiatives. These knowledge graphs enable sophisticated queries about Brazilian legislation, including historical analysis, comparative studies, and legal reasoning.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1992-12-28;8556)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=8556&ano=1992&data=28/12/1992&ato=1e7c3a610MFpWT207)