# Law No. 9371 of December 17, 1996 > Brazilian law **Wikidata**: [Q105647384](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105647384) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-9371-of-december-17-1996 ## Summary Law No. 9371 of December 17, 1996 (Lei nº 9371/1996) is a Brazilian federal statute enacted during the presidency of Fernando Henrique Cardoso. Published in Brasília, the legislation functions as a legal authorization regarding supplementary credits and the fiscal budget for the Federal Government of Brazil (União Federal). It is classified as a formal written document that creates law and applies to the jurisdiction of Brazil. ## Key Facts - **Full Title:** Lei nº 9371, de 17 de dezembro de 1996 - **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 9371/1996 - **Classification:** Statute (formal written document that creates law) - **Enactment Date:** December 17, 1996 - **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil - **Signed By:** Fernando Henrique Cardoso (President of Brazil) - **Jurisdiction:** Brazil - **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil - **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese - **Primary Subjects:** Supplementary Credit (Credito Suplementar), Fiscal Budget (Orçamento Fiscal), Authorization, Executive Branch, Federal Government of Brazil, Chamber of Deputies, Opening of Credit (Abertura De Credito), Destination/Allocation (Destinação) - **Official Identifier (LexML):** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1996-12-17;9371 - **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1995_1997/l9371.htm - **Copyright Status:** Public domain (as an edict of government) ## FAQs **What is the legal function of Law No. 9371/1996?** This statute serves as a formal legal authorization focused on the opening of supplementary credits and the management of the Fiscal Budget for the Federal Government of Brazil. It addresses the allocation (destinação) of resources within the Executive Branch. **Who sanctioned Law No. 9371/1996?** The law was sanctioned by Fernando Henrique Cardoso, who was serving as the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil at the time of its promulgation on December 17, 1996. **Where is the official text of Law No. 9371/1996 accessible?** The full text of the law is available in Brazilian Portuguese on the official Planalto government website (https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1995_1997/l9371.htm). It is indexed under the LexML ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1996-12-17;9371`. **Does this law apply to all of Brazil?** Yes, as a federal statute (Lei federal) enacted by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, it applies to the jurisdiction of Brazil. ## Why It Matters Law No. 9371 of December 17, 1996, matters as a concrete manifestation of statutory law within the Brazilian legal system. It represents the exercise of executive and legislative authority to modify or authorize budgetary allocations—specifically "supplementary credits"—which are essential for adjusting government spending during a fiscal year. As a statute, it embodies the "edict of government" doctrine, meaning it is a public domain document created to govern society, ensuring that legal mandates regarding public finances are documented and accessible. In the context of 1996, this law operated within the framework of the 1988 Constitution and the Real Plan economic stability initiated under President Fernando Henrique Cardoso. It illustrates the ongoing fiscal management required by the Brazilian state to fund the operations of the Federal Government and the Executive Branch. ## Notable For - **Budgetary Authority:** Specifically authorizes "Supplementary Credit" (Credito Suplementar) and "Opening of Credit" for the Union. - **Executive Action:** An example of a statute promulgated by President Fernando Henrique Cardoso during his first term (1995–2002). - **Public Accessibility:** Like all Brazilian statutes, it is notable for being in the public domain, ensuring unrestricted access to the laws governing the public. - **LexML Integration:** Identified by a specific URN (Uniform Resource Name) within the Brazilian legal information standard (LexML Brazil). - **WikiProject Inclusion:** Recognized as a relevant entity within WikiProject Brazilian Laws, highlighting its significance in legal knowledge bases. ## Body ### Legal Classification and Definition Law No. 9371 of December 17, 1996, is formally classified as a **statute** (estatuto). In legal theory, a statute is a formal written document that creates law; it acts as the physical manifestation of statutory law and is distinguished from broader concepts like "legislation" or abstract "rules." As a subclass of "written work" and "document," this law serves as the official record of the legal norms it establishes. As an edict of government, the text is in the **public domain** within the United States and France (and generally freely accessible in Brazil), meaning it is not subject to copyright restrictions. This status ensures that the public has unrestrained access to the legal rules they must follow. ### Legislative Context and Approval The statute was created through the process of legislation and was officially **promulgated** on December 17, 1996. It was approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**, specifically signed by President **Fernando Henrique Cardoso**. This occurred during his tenure as the 33rd President of Brazil (serving from 1995 to 2002), a period marked by economic stabilization efforts following the introduction of the Real Plan. The law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil** (officially the Federative Republic of Brazil), a federal republic in South America. The publication occurred in **Brasília**, the federal capital of Brazil since 1960. ### Subject Matter and Scope The primary function of Law No. 9371/1996 is to address fiscal and budgetary matters. According to structured data analysis, the main subjects of the text include: - **Supplementary Credit (Credito Suplementar):** A mechanism to increase budget allocations. - **Fiscal Budget (Orçamento Fiscal):** The government's financial plan. - **Authorization (Autorização):** Legal permission granted by the legislative body. - **Opening of Credit (Abertura De Credito):** The formal act of making funds available. - **Destination (Destinação):** The allocation or end-use of the funds. The law explicitly involves the **Federal Government of Brazil (União Federal)** and the **Executive Branch (Executivo)**. It also references the **Chamber of Deputies**, indicating the legislative component involved in the authorization process for budget execution. ### Identification and Access The law is officially cited as **Lei nº 9371/1996** and is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**. To facilitate digital access and archiving, it has been assigned the LexML Brazil ID: `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1996-12-17;9371`. The official digital version of the work is hosted by the Brazilian government at the Planalto Palace's civil section: `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1995_1997/l9371.htm`. ### Geopolitical Context Enacted in 1996, this law operates within the geopolitical context of the **Federative Republic of Brazil**. At this time, Brazil was functioning under its current Constitution (promulgated October 5, 1988) and utilizing the **Brazilian Real (BRL)** as its currency, which had been introduced in July 1994 to curb hyperinflation. The country operates as a presidential representative democratic republic, where the President serves as both head of state and head of government, a structure that empowers the Presidency to sanction statutes such as Law No. 9371. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1996-12-17;9371) 2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=9371&ano=1996&data=17/12/1996&ato=87bcXV61UMJpWT1e0)