This is an English translation of Institutional Act Five published in the International Journal of Politics in 1971. Institutional Act Number Five was a decree made by the Brazilian military dictatorship in 1968, four years after the government rose to power following a coup. The act gave the president and the rest of the federal government large amounts of power. This included the power of preliminary censorship of music, films, theatre, television, press, and other mass media. This would directly lead to the censorship of music in the late 60’s into the 70’s.
This document is therefore necessary in understanding the censorship of Brazilian popular music during this period. It specifically describes what powers were given to the military regime, including the power to censor all media. It gives context to how the government was able to censor media despite not being able to do so before the coup. It’s a very historically significant document in Brazilian history and without it the 1970’s musical landscape would be a completely different place than it actually was.
“It is essential to define the concept of the civilian and military movement which has opened up for Brazil a new outlook on the future. What has existed and will continue to exist now, not only in the mind and the conduct of the military, but in the national public as a whole, is a true revolution.” (Guerchon, 258)
Guerchon, C. W. “INSTITUTIONAL ACTS OF THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT.” International Journal of Politics 1, no. 2/3 (1971): 258–69. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27868708.