# Law No. 8958 of December 20, 1994 > Brazilian law **Wikidata**: [Q105650512](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105650512) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-8958-of-december-20-1994 ## Summary Law No. 8958 of December 20, 1994, is a Brazilian statute enacted to regulate key aspects of public administration and higher education. Promulgated under President Itamar Franco, it establishes norms for the founding of institutions, civil servant recruitment, and legal frameworks for higher education in Brazil. The law remains a critical component of Brazil’s legal system, addressing governance and institutional standards. ## Key Facts - **Title:** Lei nº 8958, de 20 de dezembro de 1994 - **Country:** Brazil - **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil (Itamar Franco, 1994-12-20) - **Instance Of:** Statute - **Main Subjects:** Founding of institutions, civil servant recruitment, higher education, legal norms, and regulatory criteria - **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1994-12-20;8958` - **Publication Date:** December 20, 1994 - **Place of Publication:** Brasília - **Available At:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l8958.htm - **Jurisdiction:** Federative Republic of Brazil - **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese - **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 8958/1994 - **Focus List:** WikiProject Brazilian Laws ## FAQs **What is Law No. 8958 of December 20, 1994?** This Brazilian law establishes regulatory frameworks for public administration, higher education, and civil servant contracting. It addresses institutional founding, recruitment criteria, and legal norms, enacted under President Itamar Franco in 1994. **Who approved Law No. 8958?** The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, specifically under President Itamar Franco, who promulgated it on December 20, 1994. **Where can the full text of Law No. 8958 be accessed?** The complete text is available via the official Brazilian government portal at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l8958.htm. **What areas does Law No. 8958 primarily regulate?** The law focuses on higher education institutions, civil servant recruitment processes, and the legal criteria for founding public entities in Brazil. **Is Law No. 8958 specific to a jurisdiction?** Yes, it applies exclusively to the Federative Republic of Brazil, governing federal-level administrative and educational structures. ## Why It Matters Law No. 8958 is significant for its role in shaping Brazil’s public administration and higher education systems. It standardizes processes for institutional founding and civil servant recruitment, ensuring legal consistency across federal entities. By establishing clear regulatory criteria, the law promotes transparency and accountability in governance, directly impacting how public institutions operate and evolve. Its provisions underpin Brazil’s framework for academic and administrative governance, making it a foundational reference for policymakers, educators, and legal professionals. ## Notable For - **Regulation of Higher Education:** Directly governs the establishment and operation of higher education institutions in Brazil. - **Civil Servant Recruitment:** Standardizes contracting processes for public servants, ensuring compliance with federal norms. - **Foundational Legal Status:** Serves as a key statute within Brazil’s legal corpus, referenced in administrative and educational law. - **Presidential Promulgation:** Notable for being enacted under President Itamar Franco during a period of democratic consolidation post-military rule. - **Public Accessibility:** Freely available via government portals, reflecting Brazil’s commitment to legal transparency. ## Body ### Legal Context and Purpose Law No. 8958 of December 20, 1994, is a federal statute enacted to address critical aspects of Brazil’s public administration and education sectors. It regulates the founding of institutions, recruitment of civil servants, and establishes legal norms for higher education. The law reflects Brazil’s efforts to modernize governance and institutional frameworks during the 1990s, a decade marked by democratic consolidation and structural reforms. ### Approval and Publication Promulgated by President Itamar Franco on December 20, 1994, the law was published in Brasília, the federal capital. It is identified by the LexML Brazil ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1994-12-20;8958` and cited officially as **Lei nº 8958/1994**. The full text is accessible via the Brazilian government’s legal portal, ensuring public transparency and accessibility. ### Key Provisions The statute’s main subjects include: - **Founding of Institutions:** Establishes procedures for creating public entities and higher education institutions. - **Civil Servant Recruitment:** Defines criteria for contracting public servants, emphasizing merit-based selection and legal compliance. - **Higher Education Regulation:** Sets standards for academic programs, institutional accreditation, and administrative governance in higher education. - **Legal Norms and Criteria:** Provides detailed regulatory frameworks to ensure consistency across federal administrative and educational systems. ### Jurisdiction and Language Applicable exclusively to the Federative Republic of Brazil, the law is written in Brazilian Portuguese, the country’s official language. It applies to all federal entities, including ministries, public universities, and administrative bodies, ensuring uniformity in governance nationwide. ### Related Entities and Connections - **President Itamar Franco:** The law was approved during his presidency (1992–1994), a transitional period following the impeachment of Fernando Collor de Mello. - **Brazilian Legal System:** Part of the broader corpus of Brazilian statutory law, aligned with the 1988 Constitution. - **WikiProject Brazilian Laws:** Featured in Wikimedia projects focused on documenting and analyzing Brazilian legislation. ### Historical and Administrative Impact Enacted during a period of institutional reform, Law No. 8958 contributed to stabilizing Brazil’s public administration after the 1964–1985 military dictatorship. Its provisions reinforced democratic governance by codifying transparent processes for institutional management and civil servant recruitment. The law remains integral to Brazil’s legal infrastructure, influencing subsequent legislation in education and public sector reform. ### Technical Specifications - **Publication Date:** December 20, 1994. - **LexML Identifier:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1994-12-20;8958`. - **Citation Format:** **Lei nº 8958, de 20 de dezembro de 1994**. - **Digital Access:** Hosted on the Planalto government portal, a primary source for Brazilian legal texts. This law exemplifies Brazil’s efforts to codify modern governance principles, balancing administrative efficiency with legal rigor. Its enduring relevance underscores its role as a foundational statute in Brazilian public law. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1994-12-20;8958) 2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=8958&ano=1994&data=20/12/1994&ato=122UTSU50dJpWT42a)