Absoluta sententia expositore non indiget When language of law is clear, no explanation of it is required

STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION

ATTY. J. O. LOPEZ

Latin Maxims

Absoluta sententia expositore non indiget When language of law is clear, no explanation of it is required

Actus me invito factus non est meus actus An act done be me against me will is not my act

Actus non facit reum, nisi mens sit rea The act itself does not make a man guilty unless his intention were so

Ad proximum antecedend fiat relation nisi impediatur sententia Relative words refer to the nearest antecedents, unless the context otherwise requiresArgumento a contrario negative-opposite doctrineCasus omissus pro omisso habendus est A person, object or thing omitted from an enumerationmust be held to have been omitted intentionally.

Cessante ratione legis, cessat ipsa lex When the reason of the law ceases, the law itself ceases

Centemporanea exposito est optima et fortissima in lege the contemporary construction is strongest in law

Distingue tempora et concordabis jura distinguish times and you will harmonize laws

Dura lex sed lex the law may be harsh, but that is the law

Ejusdem generic of the same kind or specie

Exception firmat regulam in casibus non exceptis a thing not being excepted must be regarded as coming within the purview of the general rule

Ex dolo malo non oritur action no man can be allowed to found a claim upon his own wrongdoing

Expressio unius est exclusion alterius the express mention of one person, thing or consequence implies the exclusion of all others

Expressum facit cessare tacitum what is expressed puts an end to that which is implied

Ex necessitate legis by necessary implication of law

Falsa demontratio non nocet, cum de corpore constat false description does not preclude construction not vitiate the meaning of the statute

Favores ampliandi sunt; odia restringenda penal laws which are favorable to the accused are given retroactive effect.

Generale dictum generaliter est interpretandum A general statement is understood in a general sense.Generalia specialibus non derogant A general law does not nullify a specific or special law.

Hoc quidem perquam durum est, sed ita lex scripta est It is exceedingly hard but so the law is written.

Impossibilium nulla obligatio est There is no obligation to do an impossible thing.

Index animi sermo est Speech is the index of intention.

In eo quod plus sit, semper inest et minus The greater includes the lesser.

Interest reipublicae ut sit finis litium Public interest requires that by the very nature of things there must be an end to a legal controversy.

Interpotare et concordare legibus est optimus interpotandi modus Every statute must be construed and harmonized with other statutes as to form uniform system of law.Interpretatio fienda est ut res magis valeat quam pereat A law should be interpreted with a view to upholding rather destroying it.

Interpretatio talis in ambiguis semper fienda est ut evitetur inconveniens et absurdum Where there is ambiguity, such interpretation as will avoid inconvenience and absurdity is to be adopted.

Legis interpretatio legis vim obtinet The authoritative interpretation of the court of a statute acquires the force of law by becoming a part thereof.

Leges posteriores priores contrarias abrogant A later law repeals a prior law on the same subject which is repugnant thereto.

Lex de futuro, judex de praterito The law provides for the future, the judge for the past.

Lex prospicit, non respicit The law looks forward, not backward.

Maledicta est expositio quae corrumpit textum It is dangerous construction which is against the text.

Noscitur a sociis Word construed with reference to accompanying or associated words.

Nova constitutio futuris formam imponere debet non praeteritis A new statute should affect the future, not the past.

Nullus commodum potest de injuria propriasua No man should be allowed to take advantage of his own wrong.

Nullum crimen sine poena, nulla poena sine legis There is no crime without a penalty, and there is no penalty without a law.

Nullum tempus occurit regi There can be no legal right as against the authority that makes the law on which the right depends.

Optima statuti interpretatrix est ipsum statutum The best interpreter of a statute is the statute itself.

Optimus interpres rerum usus The best interpreter of the law is usage.

Pari materia Relating to same matter.

Privilegia reciprint largan interpretationem voluntate consonan concedentis Privileges are to be interpreted in accordance with the will of him who grants them.Potior est tempoe, potior est in jure he who is first in time is preferred in right.

Quando aliquid prohibetur ex directo, prohibetur et per obliquum What is prohibited directly is prohibited indirectly.

Ratihabito mandato aquiparatur Legislative ratification is equivalent to a mandate.Ratio legis Interpretation according to spirit.

Ratio legis est anima legis The reason of the law is its soul.

Reddendo singula singulis Reffering each to each; referring each phrase or expression to its appropriate object; or let each be put in its proper place.

Salus populi est suprema lex The voice of the people is the supreme law.

Surplusagium non nocet Surplusage does not vitiate a statute.

Stare decisis et non quieta movere Follow past precedents and do not disturb what has been settled.

Ubi jus, ibi remedium Where there is a right, there is a remedy.

Ubi lex non distinguit, nec nos distinguere debemus Where the law does not distinguish, we should not distinguish.Utile per inutile non vitiatur The useful is not vitiated by the non-useful.

Ut res magis valeat quam pereat That construction is to be sought which gives effect to the whole of the statute its every word.

Verba accipienda sunt secundum subjectam materiam A word is to be understood in the context in which it is used.

Verba intentioni, non e contra, debent inservire Words ought to be more subservient to the intent and not the intent to the words.

Verba legis plain-meaning rule.

Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt the laws aid the vigilant, not those who slumber on their rights.

Verba legis non est recedendum From the words of the statute there should be no departure.