Chapter II CONSTRUCTION AND INTERPRETATION

B. POWER TO CONSTRUE
1. Legis interpretation legis vim obtinet.
Judicial construction and interpretation of a statute acquires the force of law.
Chapter III AIDS TO CONSTRUCTION
C. CONTEMPORARY CONSTRCT!ON
2. Contemporanea exposition est optima et fortissimo in lege.
Conte"porar# construction is stron$est in law.
Optima est legum interpres consuetudo.
Custo" is the %est interpreter of a statute.
Regula pro lege, si deficit lex.
!n default of the law& the "a'i" rules.
3. Optimus interpres rerum usus.
The %est interpreter of the law is usa$e.
Communis error facit jus.
Co""on error so"eti"es passes as current law.
Quod ab initio non valet in tractu temporis non convalescit.
That which was ori$inall# (oid& does not %# lapse of ti"e %eco"e (alid.
. Rati!abitio mandato ae"uiparatur.
)e$islati(e ratification is equi(alent to a "andate.
#. $tare decisis et non "uieta movere.
*ollow past precedents and do not distur% what has %een settled.
%nterest republicae ut sit finis litium.
The interest of the state de"ands that there %e an end to liti$ation.
Chapter IV ADHERENCE TO, OR DEPARTURE FROM,
LANGUAGE OF STATUTE LITERAL
INTERPRETATION
&. %ndex animi sermo est.
Speech is the inde' of intention.
'nimus !ominis est anima scripti.
The intention of the part# is the soul.
(erba legis non est recedendum.
*ro" the words of the statute there should %e no departure.
)aledicta et exposition "uae corrumpit textum.
!t is %ad construction which corrupts the te't.
Littera scripta manet.
The written word endures.
Clausula rebus sic stantibus.
Thin$s thus standin$.
*. 'bsoluta sentential expositore non indigent.
+hen the lan$ua$e of the law is clear& no e'planation is required.
+ura lex sed lex.
The law "a# %e harsh %ut it is the law.
,oc "uidem per"uam durum est, sed ita lex scripta est.
!t is e'ceedin$l# hard& %ut so the law is written.
B. DEPARTURE FROM LITERAL INTERPRETATION
-. 'e"uitas nun"uam contravenit legis.
Equit# ne(er acts in contra(ention of the law.
'e"uum et bonum est lex legume.
+hat is $ood and equal is the law of laws.
.us ars boni et ae"ui.
)aw is the art of equit#.
/. Ratio legis est anima legis.
The reason of the law is the soul of the law.
Littera necat spiritus vivificate.
The letter ,ills %ut the spirit $i(es life.
(erba intentioni, non e contra, debent inservice.
+ords ou$ht to %e "ore su%ser(ient to the intent& and not the intent to the words.
0enignus leges interpretandae sunt, "uod voluntas eraum conservetur.
)aws are to %e construed li%erall#& so that their spirit and reason %e preser(ed.
Qui !aret in littera !aret in cortice.
-e who considers "erel# the letter of an instru"ent $oes %ut s,in deep into its "eanin$.
Quando verba statute sunt speciali, ratio autem generalia, statum generaliter est
intelligendum.
+hen the words used in a statute are special& %ut the purpose of the law is $eneral& it should %e
read as the $eneral e'pression.
11. Cessante rationi legis, cessat et ipsa lex.
+hen the reason of the law ceases& the law itself ceases.
11. %nterpretatio talis in ambiguis simper fienda est ut evitetur inconveniens et
absurdum.
+here there is a"%i$uit#& the interpretation of such that will a(oid incon(eniences and a%surdit#
is to %e adopted.
Legis construction non facit injuriam.
The construction of the law will not %e such as to wor, in.ur# or in.ustice.
'rgumentum ab inconvenient plurimum valet in lege.
An ar$u"ent drawn fro" incon(enience is forci%le in law.
(erba ni!il operari melius est "uam absurde.
!t is %etter that words should ha(e no operation at all than that the# should operate a%surdl#.
Lex simper intendit "uod convenit rationi.
The law alwa#s intends that which is in accordance with reason.
2bi eadem ratio ibi idem jus.
)i,e reason doth "a,e li,e law.
'rgumentum a simili valet in lege.
An ar$u"ent drawn fro" a si"ilar case& or analo$#& pre(ails in law.
+e similibus idem est judicium.
Concernin$ si"ilars& the .ud$"ent is the sa"e.
2bi eadem est ratio, ibi est eadem legis disposition.
+here there is the sa"e reason& there is the sa"e law
12. 3a est accipienda interpretation "uae vitio caret.
That interpretation is to %e adopted which is free fro" e(il or in.ustice.
Lex injusta non est lex.
An un.ust law is not a law.
13. 4iat justitia, ruat coelum .
)et ri$ht %e done& thou$h the hea(ens fall.
5emo est supra legis.
No%od# is a%o(e the law.
5ulla potential supra legis esse debet.
No power "ust %e a%o(e the law.
1. .urae naturae ae"uum est neminem cum alterius detrimento et injuria fieri
locupletiorem.
!t is certainl# not a$reea%le to natural .ustice that a stran$er should reap the pecuniar# produce of
another "an/s wor,.
1#. $urplusagium non nocet.
Surplusa$e does not (itiate a statute.
2tile per inutile non vitiatur.
The useful is not (itiated %# the non0useful.
1&. 4alsa demostratio non nocet, cum de corpore constat.
*alse description does not preclude construction nor (itiate the "eanin$ of the statute.
5il facit error nominis cum de corpora vel persona constat.
Error in na"e does not "a,e an instru"ent inoperati(e when the description is sufficientl# clear.
Certum est "uod certum reddi potest.
That is sufficientl# certain which can %e "ade certain.
1*. %bi "uid generaliter conceditur, inest !aec exception, si non ali"uid sit contras
jus bas"ue.
+here an#thin$ is $ranted $enerall#& e'e"ption fro" ri$id application of law is i"plied1 that
nothin$ shall %e contrar# to law and ri$ht.
1-. $ummum jus, summa injuria.
The ri$or of the law would %e the hi$hest in.ustice.
.us summum saepe, summa est militia.
E'tre"e law is often e'tre"e wron$.
1/. 5emo tenetur ad impossibilia.
The law o%li$es no one to perfor" an i"possi%ilit#.
%mpossibilum nulla obigatio est.
There is no o%li$ation to do an i"possi%le thin$.
Lex non cogit ad impossibilia.
The law does not require an i"possi%ilit#.
Lex non intendit ali"uid impossible.
The law does not intend the i"possi%le.
C. IMPLICATIONS
21. 3x necessitate legis.
2# the necessar# i"plication of law.
%n eo "uod plus sit, simper inest et minus.
The $reater includes the lesser.
Cui jurisdiction data est, ea "uo"ue concessa esse videntur sine "uibus jurisdiction
explicari non potuit.
+hen .urisdiction is $i(en& all powers and "eans essential to its e'ercise are also $i(en.
21. 2bi jus, ibi remedium.
+here there is a ri$ht& there is a re"ed# for (iolation thereof.
2bi jus incertum, ibi jus nullum.
+here the law is uncertain& there is no ri$ht.
22. 3x dolo malo non oritur action.
An action does not arise fro" fraud.
5ullius commodum capere potest de injuria sua propria.
No one "a# deri(e ad(anta$e fro" his own unlawful act.
%n pari delicto potior est condition defendentis.
+here the parties are equall# at fault& the position of the defendin$ part# is the %etter one.
23. Quando ali"uid pro!ibetur ex directo, pro!ibetur et per obli"uum.
+hat cannot& %# law& %e done directl# cannot %e done indirectl#.
Chapter V INTERPRETATION OF WORDS AND
PHRASES
A. IN GENERAL
34. 5eneralia (er%a sunt $eneraliter intelli$enda.
5eneral words should %e understood in their $eneral sense.
5eneris dictu" $eneraliter est interpretandu".
A $eneral state"ent is understood in its $eneral sense.
36. 7er%a accipienda sunt secundu" su%.ecta" "ateria".
A word is to %e understood in the conte't in which it is used.
7er%a "ere aequi(oca& si per co""une" usu" loquendi in intellectu certo
su"untur& talis intellectus preferendus est.
Equi(ocal words or those with dou%le "eanin$ are to %e understood
accordin$ to their co""on and ordinar# sense.
7er%a artis e' arte.
+ords of art should %e e'plained fro" their usa$e in the art to which the# %elon$.
7er%a $eneralia restrin$untur ad ha%ilitate" rei (el persona".
5eneral words should %e confined accordin$ to the su%.ect0"atter or persons to which the#
relate.
38. %i le' non distin$uit necnon distin$uere de%e"us.
+here the law does not distin$uish& the courts should not distin$uish.
39. :issi"ilu" dissi"ilis est ratio.
Of thin$s dissi"ilar& the rule is dissi"ilar.
B. ASSOCIATED WORDS
2-. 5oscitur a sociis.
A thin$ is ,nown %# its associates.
2/. 3jesdem generis.
Of the sa"e ,ind or species.
31. 3xpressio unius est exclusion alterius.
The e'press "ention of one person& thin$ or consequence i"plies the e'clusion of all others.
3xpressum facit cessare tacitum.
+hat is e'pressed puts an end to that which is i"plied.
31. 'rgumentum a contrario.
Ne$ati(e0Opposite :octrine; what is e'pressed puts an end to that which is i"plied.
32. Cassus omissus pro omisso !abendus est.
A person& o%.ect or thin$ o"itted fro" an enu"eration "ust %e held to ha(e %een o"itted
intentionall#.
33. 'd proximum antecedens fiat relatio nisi impediatur sentential.
A qualif#in$ word or phrase should %e understood as referrin$ to the nearest antecedent.
3. Reddendo singular singulis.
Referrin$ each to each& or referrin$ each phrase or e'pression to its appropriate o%.ect& or let
each %e put in its proper place.
C. PROVISOS, EXCEPTIONS AND SAVING CLAUSES
3#. 3xceptio firmat regulam in casibus non exceptis.
A thin$ not %ein$ e'pected "ust %e re$arded as co"in$ within the pur(iew of the $eneral rule.
Chapter VI STATUTE CONSIDERED AS A WHOLE IN
RELATION TO OTHER STATUTES
A. STATUTE CONSTRUED AS A WHOLE
3&. Optima statute interpretatrix est ipsum statutum.
The %est interpreter of the statute is the statute itself.
3x tota materia emergat resolution.
The e'position of a statute should %e "ade fro" all its parts put to$ether.
%njustum est, nisi tota lege inspecta, de una ali"ua ejus particula proposita indicare
vel respondere.
!t is un.ust to decide or to respond as to an# particular part of a law without e'a"inin$ the whole
of the law.
5emo enim ali"uam partem recte intelligere possit ante"uam totum interum at"ue
interim perlegit.
The sense and "eanin$ of the law is collected %# (iewin$ all the parts to$ether as one whole and
not of one part onl# %# itself.
3x antecendentibus et conse"uentibus fit optima interpretation.
A passa$e will %e %est interpreted %# reference to that which precedes and follows it.
(erba posterima propter certitudinem addita ad priora "uae certitudine indigent
sunt referenda.
Reference should %e "ade to a su%sequent section in order to e'plain a pre(ious clause of which
the "eanin$ is dou%tful.
3*. %nterpretatio fienda est ut res magis valeat "uam pereat.
A law should %e interpreted with a (iew of upholdin$ rather than destro#in$ it.
B. STATUTE CONSTRUED IN RELATION TO
CONSTITUTION AND OTHER STATUTES
3-. 6ari materia.
Of the sa"e "atter.
%nterpretare et concordare leges legibus est optimus interpretandi modus.
E(er# statute "#st %e so construed and har"oni<ed with other statutes as to for" a unifor"
s#ste" of law.
3/. +istingue tempora et concordabis jura.
:istin$uish ti"es and #ou will har"oni<e law.
0 Te"pora "utantur et le$es "utantur in illis.
0 Ti"es ha(e chan$ed and laws ha(e chan$ed with the".
)utatis mutandis.
+ith the necessar# chan$es.
Chapter VII STRICT OR LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION
A. IN GENERAL
1. $alus populi est suprema lex.
The (oice of the people is the supre"e law.
$tatuta pro publico commodo late interpretantur.
Statutes enacted for the pu%lc $ood are to %e construed li%erall#.
6rivatum incommodum publico bono pensatur.
The pri(ate interests of the indi(idual "ust $i(e wa# to the acco""odation of the pu%lic.
B. STATUTES STRICTL CONSTRUED
1. 'ctus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea.
The act does not "a,e a person $uilt# unless the "ind is also $uilt#.
'ctus me invito facturs non est meus actus.
An act done %# "e a$ainst "# will is not "# act.
2. 6rivilegia recipiunt largam interpretationem voluntate consonem concedentis.
Pri(ile$es are to %e interpreted in accordance with the will of hi" who $rants the".
Renunciatio non praesumitur.
Renunciation cannot %e presu"ed.
3. $trictissimi juris.
*ollow the law strictl#.
. 5ullum tempus occurit regi.
There can %e no le$al ri$ht as a$ainst the authorit# that "a,es the law on which the ri$ht
depends.
Chapter VIII MANDATOR AND DIRECTIONAL
STATUTES
A. MANDATOR STATUTES
#. (igilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt.
The law aids the (i$ilant& not those who slu"%er on their ri$hts.
6otior est in tempore, potior est in jure.
-e who is first in ti"e is preferred in ri$ht.
Chapter IX PROSPECTIVE AND RETROACTIVE
STATUTES
A. IN GENERAL
&. Lex prospicit, non respicit.
The law loo,s forward& not %ac,ward.
Lex de futuro, judex de praeterito.
The law pro(ides for the future& the .ud$e for the past.
0 No(a constitutio futuris for"a" i"ponere de%et non praeteritis.
0 A new statute should affect the future& not the past.
Leges "uae retrospciunt, et magna cum cautione sunt ad!ibendae ne"ue enim
janus locatur in legibus.
)aws which are retrospecti(e are rarel# and cautiousl# recei(ed& for Janus has reall# no place in
the laws.
Leges et constitutiones futuris certum est dare formam negotiis, non ad facta
praeterita revocari, nisi nominatim et de praeterito tempore et ad!uc pendentibus
negotiis cautum sit.
)aws should %e construed as prospecti(e& not retrospecti(e& unless the# are e'pressl# "ade
applica%le to past transactions and to such as are still pendin$.
B. STATUTES GIVEN PROSPECTIVE EFFECT
*. 5ullum crimen sine poena, nulla poena sine lege.
There is no cri"e without a penalt#& there is no penalt# without a law.
-. 4avorabilia sunt amplianda, odiosa restringenda.
Penal laws which are fa(ora%le to the accused are $i(en retroacti(e effect.
Chapter X AMENDMENT, REVISION, CODIFICATION
AND REPEAL
A. REPEAL
/. Leges posteriores priores contrarias abrogant.
)ater statutes repeal prior ones which are repu$nant thereto.
#1. 7eneralia specialibus non derogant.
A $eneral law does not nullif# a specific or special law.
BINDING FORCE OF RULES OF INTERPRETATION
AND CONSTRUCTION
'. %gnorantia legis neminem excusat.
!$norance of the law e'cuses no one.
LANGUAGE OF STATUTE WHEN AMBIGUOUS
0. %n obscuris inspici solere "uod versimilius est, aut "uod plerum"ue fieri solet.
+hen "atters are o%scure& it is custo"ar# to ta,e what appears to %e "ore li,el# or what usuall#
often happens.
'mbiguitas verborum patens nulla verificatione excluditur.
A patent a"%i$uit# cannot %e cleared up %# e'trinsic e(idence.
PRESUMPTION AGAINST IN!USTICE AND HARDSHIP
C. 'd ea "uae fre"uentibus accidunt jura adaptatur.
)aws are understood to %e adapted to those cases which "ost frequentl# occur.
.us constitui oportet in !is "uae ut plurimum accidunt non "uae ex inordinato.
)aws ou$ht to %e "ade with a (iew to those cases which happen "ost frequentl#& and not to
those which are of rare or accidental occurrence.
Quod semel aut bis existit praetereunt legislatores.
)e$islators pass o(er what happens onl# once or twice.
+e minimis non curat lex.
The law does not concern itself with triflin$ "atters.
TITLE OF THE ACT "INTRINSIC AID#
+. 5igrum 5un"uam 3xcedere +ebet Rubrum.
The %lac, =%od# of the act printed in %lac,> should ne(er $o %e#ond the red =title or ru%ric of the
statute printed in red>