# Law No. 9698 of September 2, 1998

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105647810](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105647810)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-9698-of-september-2-1998

## Summary
**Law No. 9698 of September 2, 1998** is a Brazilian federal statute enacted to organize and structure the Labor Court system (*Justiça do Trabalho*) within the state of São Paulo. Officially promulgated by President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, it specifically provides for the creation and definition of Regional Labor Courts (*Tribunais Regionais do Trabalho*), Conciliation and Judgment Boards (*Juntas de Conciliação e Julgamento*), and related career positions and public offices. This legal text functions as a formal written document that creates law, applicable throughout the Federative Republic of Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 9698, de 2 de setembro de 1998
- **Date of Enactment:** September 2, 1998
- **Promulgating Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Promulgating Official:** Fernando Henrique Cardoso
- **Classification:** Instance of a Statute (formal written document creating law)
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 9698/1998
- **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1998-09-02;9698
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l9698.htm
- **Primary Subjects:** Regional Labor Courts (TRT), Municipality of Brazil, Creation (of offices/courts), São Paulo State, Conciliation and Judgment Boards (JCJ), Career Jobs, Labor Court, Public Office.
- **Wikimedia Project:** On focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws.

## FAQs
**What was the primary purpose of Law No. 9698/1998?**
The law was enacted to organize and structure the Labor Court system (*Justiça do Trabalho*), specifically focusing on the creation and administration of Regional Labor Courts (*Tribunais Regionais do Trabalho*) and Conciliation and Judgment Boards (*Juntas de Conciliação e Julgamento*) within the state of São Paulo. It also defined related career positions and public offices.

**Who approved and signed Law No. 9698/1998?**
The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil and formally promulgated by President Fernando Henrique Cardoso on September 2, 1998.

**To which jurisdiction does this law apply?**
Law No. 9698/1998 is a federal statute that applies to the entire Federative Republic of Brazil, though its specific provisions primarily concern the organization of labor courts within the state of São Paulo.

**Where can the official text of the law be accessed?**
The official text of Law No. 9698/1998 is publicly available online through the official Brazilian government portal at the Planalto website (https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l9698.htm).

## Why It Matters
Law No. 9698 of September 2, 1998, matters as a significant instrument of statutory law within the Brazilian legal system, directly influencing the administration of labor justice. By providing for the creation and organization of Regional Labor Courts (*Tribunais Regionais do Trabalho*) and Conciliation and Judgment Boards (*Juntas de Conciliação e Julgamento*), it directly shaped the operational capacity of the Labor Court system (*Justiça do Trabalho*) in São Paulo, the most populous state in Brazil. The law facilitated the establishment of necessary career positions (*cargos de carreira*) and public offices (*cargos públicos*), ensuring the judicial infrastructure could effectively handle labor disputes. As a statute—a formal written document that creates law—it serves as a concrete manifestation of legal norms, impacting workers, employers, and the judicial machinery responsible for adjudicating their rights and obligations.

## Notable For
- **Structuring Labor Courts:** Specifically provided for the organization of the Labor Court system (*Justiça do Trabalho*) in São Paulo.
- **Creation of Judicial Bodies:** Authorized the creation of Regional Labor Courts (*Tribunais Regionais do Trabalho*) and Conciliation and Judgment Boards (*Juntas de Conciliação e Julgamento*).
- **Definition of Public Offices:** Established and defined specific career positions (*cargos de carreira*) and public offices (*cargos públicos*) within the judicial system.
- **Promulgation by FHC:** Signed into law by President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, a notable figure in Brazilian political history.
- **Open Access:** The full text is freely available to the public via the official government portal, consistent with the public domain status of statutes.

## Body

### Legal Classification and Status
Law No. 9698, enacted on September 2, 1998, is classified as a **statute**, a formal written document that serves as a manifestation of statutory law. As an instance of a statute, it is a subclass of written work, document, and rule. It functions as a legal norm caused by legislation and applies to the entire Federative Republic of Brazil, though its subject matter is geographically concentrated. The law is written in **Brazilian Portuguese** and follows the standard legal citation format **Lei nº 9698/1998**.

### Subject Matter and Provisions
The law addresses multiple key subjects related to the administration of labor justice. Its main focus is the **Regional Labor Courts** (*Tribunal Regional Do Trabalho - TRT*) and the **Labor Court** system (*Justiça Do Trabalho*) within the state of **São Paulo** (*Estado De São Paulo*). It provides for the **creation** of judicial bodies, specifically mentioning **Conciliation and Judgment Boards** (*Junta De Conciliação E Julgamento - JCJ*). Furthermore, the law legislates on human resources within this system, defining **career jobs** (*Cargo De Carreira*) and **public offices** (*Cargo Publico*). It also touches upon the administrative organization of the **municipality of Brazil** in the context of these judicial districts.

### Historical Context and Enactment
The law was **approved by** the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The determination method for its enactment was **promulgation**, which took place on **September 2, 1998**, under the presidency of **Fernando Henrique Cardoso**. The official place of publication was **Brasília**, the federal capital. This act was part of a broader legislative effort to modernize and structure the Brazilian judicial system during Cardoso's administration.

### Identification and Access
For purposes of legal reference and digital access, the law is assigned the **LexML Brazil ID**: `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1998-09-02;9698`. The official text is available online and can be accessed via the **work available at URL**: `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l9698.htm`. This digital availability ensures that the law, as an edict of government, remains in the **public domain** and accessible to all citizens, a standard for statutes in Brazil and many other jurisdictions. It is also tracked within the **WikiProject Brazilian Laws** on Wikimedia projects.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1998-09-02;9698)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=9698&ano=1998&data=02/09/1998&ato=f8eETQU1EeNpWT8c4)