Historical Count of Federal Laws Raises Questions About the Effectiveness and Necessity of So Many New Norms in the Country.
Brazil reached, on this Wednesday (16), a significant milestone in its legislative history: the Federal Law number 15,000, which declares educator Anísio Teixeira as the patron of Brazilian public education. This count dates back to the Constitution of 1946, when the country restored democracy and resumed the rule of law. Since then, the production of federal laws has grown steadily, reaching an average of one new Federal Law every two days. But does this avalanche of laws truly meet the needs of society?
Over these 78 years, Brazil has enacted a vast quantity of ordinary laws, reflecting the complexity of society and the ongoing pursuit to regulate various areas of public life. Senator Castellar Neto (PP-MG) emphasizes that the production of laws in Brazil follows a pace that matches social changes. “This number does not scare us because society is, indeed, a fluid movement. The legislator merely translates this evolution into new norms,” he states.
Does the Quantity of Federal Laws Really Matter?
Legal experts highlight that the number of norms produced by a country is not necessarily an indicator of the quality or effectiveness of those laws. The production of federal laws in Brazil is influenced by its legal system, based on civil law, which differs from other systems, such as the common law adopted in the United Kingdom and the United States, where judicial precedents carry more weight than express norms.
-
Brazilian city gains industrial hub for 85 companies that is equivalent to 55 football fields.
-
Peugeot and Citroën factory in Argentina cuts production by half and opens a layoff program for more than 2,000 employees after Brazil drastically reduced purchases of Argentine vehicles.
-
A Brazilian city gains a factory worth R$ 300 million with the capacity to process 200 thousand tons of wheat per year, a mill of 660 tons/day, silos for 42 thousand tons, and an industrial area of 276 thousand m².
-
Havan will leave the shopping mall in Blumenau to inaugurate something that the chain has never done before: a megastore in half-timbered style in the Historic Center of the city, which is expected to be completed in May and change the landscape of local retail.
For Senator Laércio Oliveira (PP-SE), the Federal Law plays a fundamental role in representing social aspirations, even when some norms end up not being fully complied with. “Laws arise to ensure the well-being of society, and this reflects the legitimacy of political representation in Congress,” he asserts.
Laws That Reflect Diversity
Senator Paulo Paim (PT-RS), who has been in Congress since 1987, points out that many laws enacted after the Constitution of 1988 address the diversity of the Brazilian population. He cites, for example, the Statute of the Elderly, the Statute of Racial Equality, and the Statute of Persons with Disabilities, all stemming from his proposals. However, Paim issues a warning: it is crucial for society to remain vigilant to prevent laws from benefiting only “select groups” and not the collective.
According to legislative consultant Gilberto Guerzoni Filho, it is important to note that not all laws truly innovate the legal world. The production of laws in Brazil is considered “abundant,” but many norms are created solely for commemorative dates or honorary designations, which may not have a significant impact on the daily lives of the population.
The Challenge of Consolidating Laws
Another point raised by experts is the accumulation of norms that sometimes become ineffective or obsolete. According to João Alberto de Oliveira Lima, a Senate analyst, Brazil needs to focus more on consolidating its laws, integrating related norms to simplify the legal system. He mentions the portal normas.leg.br, which seeks to organize laws since 1880, but emphasizes that the work of legislative curation still needs to advance.
Despite the challenges, Brazil remains a global example in organizing and compiling laws. The Federal Law number 15,000 is yet another milestone on this path, but the question that remains is: do so many laws truly improve citizens’ lives or make the system more confusing?
And you, what do you think? Does Brazil need more laws or fewer norms and more action?

Tudo NO BRASIL é DEMASIADAMENTE EXTENSO E COMPLICADO, e frequentemente SEM USO PRÁTICO E SEM FISCALIZAÇÃO.
Ah, você acha que o Brasil é demais, extenso e complicado? Que você está brincando! O país é como um brinquedo Lego: tem mais peças do que lugar para montar!