# Law No. 903 of October 28, 1949

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105647697](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105647697)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-903-of-october-28-1949

## Summary
Law No. 903 of October 28, 1949 is a Brazilian federal statute that authorized the opening of supplementary credit to the Judiciary for payment of gratuities. Officially titled "Lei nº 903, de 28 de outubro de 1949" and promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, this law was published in Rio de Janeiro in Brazilian Portuguese and is cataloged under the LexML Brazil identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1949-10-28;903.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 903, de 28 de outubro de 1949
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 903/1949
- **Date of Promulgation:** October 28, 1949
- **Legal Classification:** Statute (formal written document that creates law, encompassing acts, executive orders, and by-laws)
- **Promulgating Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies to Brazil (federal jurisdiction)
- **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1949-10-28;903
- **Law Digest:** "AUTORIZA A ABERTURA AO PODER JUDICIARIO DE CREDITO SUPLEMENTAR PARA PAGAMENTO DE GRATIFICAÇÃO." (Authorizes the opening of supplementary credit to the Judiciary for payment of gratuity)
- **Primary Subject Matter:** Supplementary credit (Credito Suplementar) for gratuity payments (Gratificação) to the Judiciary
- **Specific Geographic Focus:** State of Bahia (Estado Da Bahia) is explicitly mentioned in the subject classification
- **Institutional Focus:** Regional Electoral Courts (Tribunal Regional Eleitoral - TRE) and the broader Judiciary (Poder Judiciario)
- **Financial Mechanism:** Government budget allocation (Verba Um) and payment processes (Pagamento)
- **Wikimedia Project Inclusion:** Part of WikiProject Brazilian Laws focus list

## FAQs
**What specific action did Law No. 903 authorize?**  
Law No. 903 authorized the opening of supplementary credit specifically directed to the Judiciary branch to enable gratuity payments, addressing budgetary needs beyond the originally allocated funds.

**What type of legal instrument is Law No. 903?**  
It is a federal statute, which is a formal written document that creates law in Brazil, classified as an act passed by legislative authority and promulgated by the executive branch.

**Who approved this law and when did it take effect?**  
The Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil promulgated the law on October 28, 1949, which is also its official publication date.

**Where and in what language was Law No. 903 published?**  
The law was published in Rio de Janeiro, which served as Brazil's capital at the time, and was written in Brazilian Portuguese, the country's official language.

**What is the LexML Brazil identifier and why is it important?**  
The LexML Brazil ID is urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1949-10-28;903, a unique Uniform Resource Name that enables precise digital identification and retrieval of the law within Brazil's legal information system.

**Which government institutions does this law primarily concern?**  
The law specifically targets the Judiciary (Poder Judiciario) and the Regional Electoral Courts (Tribunal Regional Eleitoral - TRE), while also referencing the State of Bahia in its subject classification.

**Is this law part of any special documentation projects?**  
Yes, Law No. 903 is included in the WikiProject Brazilian Laws, a Wikimedia initiative focused on cataloging and improving coverage of Brazilian legislation.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 903 of October 28, 1949 represents a critical mechanism in Brazil's federal budgetary and judicial administration system by authorizing supplementary credit allocations specifically for the Judiciary. This law matters because it demonstrates the federal government's capacity to provide additional financial resources beyond initial budget appropriations to support judicial operations and gratuity payments, particularly to electoral courts. Its inclusion in the LexML Brazil system with a permanent URN identifier ensures the law remains digitally accessible and citable in Brazil's modern legal information infrastructure. The law's specific mention of the State of Bahia and Regional Electoral Courts highlights its targeted approach to addressing regional judicial funding needs within Brazil's federated structure. As a statute from 1949, it provides historical insight into mid-20th century Brazilian public financial management and the legal formalities required for budgetary modifications. The law's documentation through WikiProject Brazilian Laws further underscores its relevance as a catalogued piece of Brazil's legislative heritage, supporting legal research and transparency in governance.

## Notable For
- **Specific Budgetary Mechanism:** Authorizes supplementary credit rather than regular appropriations, representing an exceptional financial measure for the Judiciary
- **Judiciary-Focused Allocation:** Uniquely targets the Judiciary branch specifically for gratuity payments, distinguishing it from general civil service compensation laws
- **Electoral Court Emphasis:** Explicitly names Regional Electoral Courts (TRE) as beneficiaries, highlighting the importance of electoral administration funding
- **Geographic Specificity:** Contains specific subject classification for the State of Bahia among its main subjects
- **Permanent Digital Identifier:** Assigned a LexML Brazil URN (urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1949-10-28;903) for persistent digital referencing
- **Wikimedia Documentation:** Included in WikiProject Brazilian Laws, marking it as a cataloged item of legislative significance
- **Historical Publication Context:** Published in Rio de Janeiro during the period when it functioned as Brazil's capital city (prior to the 1960 capital relocation to Brasília)
- **Portuguese Language Formulation:** Exemplifies Brazilian legislative drafting in Portuguese with specific terminology like "Credito Suplementar" and "Gratificação"
- **Presidential Promulgation:** Directly promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, reflecting executive approval of legislative action
- **Multi-Subject Classification:** Covers six distinct subject areas in its metadata: supplementary credit, Bahia state, gratuity, judiciary, electoral courts, budget, and payment processes

## Body

### Legal Identity and Classification
Law No. 903 of October 28, 1949 holds the official Portuguese title "Lei nº 903, de 28 de outubro de 1949" and is classified as a statute under Brazilian law. As a statute, it represents a formal written document that creates law, functioning as a manifestation of statutory law within Brazil's federal legal system. The law is cited formally as "Lei nº 903/1949" and is recognized in Wikidata with the description "Brazilian law." Its legal status is defined by its promulgation by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil on October 28, 1949, establishing it as federal legislation with nationwide applicability. The law is composed in Brazilian Portuguese, the official language of Brazil, and was published in Rio de Janeiro, which served as the nation's capital at the time of its enactment.

### Content and Purpose
The core purpose of Law No. 903 is captured in its law digest: "AUTORIZA A ABERTURA AO PODER JUDICIARIO DE CREDITO SUPLEMENTAR PARA PAGAMENTO DE GRATIFICAÇÃO." This translates to authorizing the opening of supplementary credit to the Judiciary for payment of gratuities. The law specifically addresses financial mechanisms for the judicial branch, enabling additional budgetary allocations beyond originally approved appropriations. Its main subjects span multiple categories: supplementary credit (Credito Suplementar), the State of Bahia (Estado Da Bahia), gratuity payments (Gratificação), the Judiciary (Poder Judiciario), Regional Electoral Courts (Tribunal Regional Eleitoral or TRE), government budget allocations (Verba Um), and payment processes (Pagamento). This subject classification indicates the law's focus on both national judicial funding and specific regional considerations for Bahia's judicial institutions.

### Promulgation and Publication Authority
The law received formal approval through promulgation by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil on the date of October 28, 1949. This executive action followed the legislative process required for statutes in Brazil's federal republic system. The publication occurred in Rio de Janeiro, which was Brazil's capital city from 1763 until 1960 when the capital transferred to Brasília. The timing places this law within the post-World War II period of Brazilian history, during the presidency of Eurico Gaspar Dutra (1946-1951) and under the Constitution of 1946. The promulgation date and publication location are documented with references to the official LexML Brazil source.

### Jurisdictional and Geographic Application
Law No. 903 applies to the entire jurisdiction of Brazil as federal legislation. While it operates at the national level, its subject classification specifically references the State of Bahia (Estado Da Bahia), suggesting particular relevance or application to that state's judicial institutions. The law's provisions concerning Regional Electoral Courts (Tribunal Regional Eleitoral) indicate it addresses the electoral justice system, which in Brazil operates as a specialized branch within the broader Judiciary. Each state maintains its own Regional Electoral Court, and this law's authorization of supplementary credit would extend to these state-level electoral judicial bodies.

### Technical Documentation and Cataloging
The law carries a permanent digital identifier within Brazil's legal information system: urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1949-10-28;903. This LexML Brazil ID follows the URN (Uniform Resource Name) standard, enabling persistent identification and electronic retrieval of the legislative text. The law is also cataloged within Wikimedia's WikiProject Brazilian Laws, a dedicated project focused on improving coverage and documentation of Brazilian legislation across Wikimedia platforms. This dual documentation—both in Brazil's official legal informatics system and in collaborative knowledge projects—ensures its preservation and accessibility for legal research, historical analysis, and public information purposes.

### Financial and Budgetary Implications
The authorization of supplementary credit represents a significant budgetary mechanism within Brazil's public financial management system. Unlike regular appropriations passed in annual budgets, supplementary credit requires specific legislative authorization to address unforeseen needs or shortfalls. Law No. 903's focus on gratuity payments (Gratificação) to judicial personnel suggests it addressed compensation matters requiring additional funding beyond initial allocations. The reference to "Verba Um" (government budget) in its subject classification confirms its role in budget execution processes. This law exemplifies the formal legal procedures required for the federal government to provide additional financial resources to the Judiciary, demonstrating the separation of powers and budgetary controls within Brazil's governmental structure.

### Institutional and Subject Relationships
The law connects to multiple institutional entities and concepts within Brazil's governance system. It directly involves the Judiciary (Poder Judiciario) as the beneficiary of the supplementary credit. The Regional Electoral Courts (Tribunal Regional Eleitoral) are specifically named, highlighting the law's relevance to Brazil's electoral justice system. The State of Bahia appears as a geographic subject, potentially indicating either a primary beneficiary or a case study within the legislation. The law also touches upon fundamental governmental processes: budget allocation, credit authorization, and payment execution. These relationships position Law No. 903 within the intersection of financial law, administrative law, and judicial organization, making it a component of Brazil's broader legal framework governing inter-branch financial relations.

### Historical and Legal Context
As a 1949 statute, Law No. 903 predates Brazil's current 1988 Constitution and belongs to the legal framework established under the 1946 Constitution during the period known as the Fourth Brazilian Republic (1946-1964). This era was characterized by democratic governance following the fall of the Estado Novo regime and preceding the military coup of 1964. The law's publication in Rio de Janeiro places it within the historical context of that city serving as the federal capital. Its preservation in the LexML system demonstrates how contemporary Brazil maintains access to historical legislation, supporting legal continuity and administrative transparency. The law's inclusion in WikiProject Brazilian Laws further indicates its recognition as a document of ongoing relevance for understanding Brazil's legislative history and judicial funding mechanisms.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1949-10-28;903)
2. LexML Brasil