Donica P. Hermosilla LLB-1 Statutory Construction

LEGAL MAXIMS

No.

LEGAL MAXIM TRASLATION

1 Contemporea exposito est optima et fotissima in lege

The contemporary construction is the strongest law.

2 Ex dolo mato non oritur action No man can be allowed to found a claim upon his own wrong doing.

3 Favores ampliandi sunt, odia restringenda Penal laws which are favorable to the accused are given retroactive effect.

4 Generia verba sunt generaliter intelligenda

What is generally spoken shall be generally understood.

5 In eo quod plus sit, simper inest et minus The greater includes the lesser.6 Interest reipublicae ut sit finis litum Public interest requires that by the very nature of

things there must be an end to a legal controversy.7 Interporare et concordare legibus est

optimus interpotandi modus Every statute must be so construed and harmonized with another statutes as t form uniform system of laws

8 Interpretatio talis in ambiguis simper fienda est ut critetur inconvenies et absurdum

Where there is ambiguity, such interpretation as will avoid inconvenience and absurdity is to be adopted

9 Legis interpretation legis vim obtinent The authoritative interpretation of the court of a statute acquires the forces of law becoming a part thereof.

10 Lex de futuro, judex de praterito The law provides for the future, judge for the past.11 Noscitur a sociis The word construed with reference to accompanying

or associated words.12 Optimus interpres rerum usus The best interpreter of the law is usage.13 Potior est in tempore potior est in jure He who is first in time is preferred right.14 Rotihabo mandato aquiparatur Legislative ratification is equivalent to a mandate.15 Reddendo singula singulis Referring each to each; referring each phrase or

expression to its appropriate object; or let each be put in its proper place.

16 Salus populi est suprema lex The voice of the people in the supreme law.17 Stare decisis et non quieta movers Follow past precedence and do not disturb what has

been settled.18 Ut res magis valeat quam pereat That construction is to be sought which gives effect to

the whole of the statute—its every words.19 Verba intentioni, non e contra, debent

inservireWords ought to be more subservient to the intent and not to the words.

20 Inter alia Amongst other things.21 Lis mota The cause of a suit or action.22 Que cada palo aguan te suvela Each mask should bear its sail.23 Sine qua non Non indispensable.24 Index ex alterius incommode debet

lecupletariNo man ough to be made reich out of another’s injury.

25 Jus soli Citizenship by place of birth.26 Obiter dictum Said in passing.27 Fiat justicia, nuat coelum Let the right be done, though the heavens fall.28 Verba Legis Plain meaning rule29 Index animi sermo Speech is the index of intention30 Maledicta est expositio quae corrumpit

textumIt is dangerous construction which is against the text

31 Dura lex sed lex The law may be harsh, but it is still the law32 Absoluta sentential expositore non indi When the language of the law is clear, no explanation

of it is required.33 Hoc quidem perquam durum est, sed ita

lex scripta estIt is exceedingly hard but so the law is written

34 Interpretation fienda est ut res magis valeat quam pereat

That interpretation as will give the thing efficacy is to be adopted, as well as the rule that provisions on initiative should be liberally construed to effectuate their purposes, to facilitate and not to hamper the exercise by voters of the rights granted thereby.

35 Ratio legis Interpretation according to the spirit or reason of the law

36 Verba intentioni, non e contra, debentinservire

Words ought to be more subservient to the intent and not the intent to the words.

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

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

39 Surplusagium no noceat Surplusage does not vitiate a statute.40 Utile per inutile non vitiatur Useful vitiated by the non-useful.41 Falsa demonstration non nocet, cum de

corpore constratFalse description preclude construction nor vitiate the meaning of the statute which is otherwise clear.

42 Impossibilium nulla obligatio In other words, there is no obligation to do an impossible thing.

43 Ex necessitate legis From the necessity of the law44 Nullus commodum capere potest de injuria

sua propriaNo man should be allowed to take advantage of his own wrong.

45 Quando aliquid prohibetur ex directo, prohibetur et per obliquum

What cannot, by law, be done directly cannot be done indirectly.

46 Ubi lex non distinguit nec nos distinguere debemus

Where the law does not distinguish, we ought not to distinguish.

47 Generalia verba sunt generaliter intelligenda

What is generally spoken shall be generally understood or general words should be understood in a general sense.

48 Generale dictum generaliter est interpretandum

A general statement is understood in a general sense.

49 Verba accipienda sunt secundum materiam

A word is to be understood in the context in which

50 Ejusdem generis The same kind or specie51 Expressio unius est exclusio alterius The expression of one thing is the exclusion of

another.52 Expressum facit cessare tacitum What is expressed puts an end to that which is

implied.53 Exceptio firmat regulam in casibus non

exceptisA maxim of recognized utility is the rule that the express exception, exemption or saving excludes others

54 Argumentum a contrario What is expressed puts an end to that which is implied or negative-opposite doctrine

55 Casus omissus pro omisso habendus est A person, object or thing omitted from an enumeration must be held to have been omitted intentionally.

56 Ad proximum antecedens fiat relatio nisi impediatur sententia

Relative words refer to the nearest antecedents, unless the context otherwise requires.

57 Optima statuti interpretatrix est ipsum statutum

The best interpreter of a statute is the statute itself

58 Interpretatio fienda est ut res magis valeat quam pereat

A law should be interpreted with a view to upholding rather than destroying it.

59 Interpretare et concordare leges legibus est optimus interpretandi modus

Every statute must be so construed and harmonized with other statutes as to form a uniform system of jurisprudence.

60 Distingue tempora et concordabis jura Distinguish times and you will harmonize laws61 Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea The act itself does not make a man guilty unless his

intention were so.62 Actus me invito factus non est meus actus An act done by me against my will is not my act63 Privilegia recipiunt largam

interpretationem voluntati consonam concedentis

Privileges are to be interpreted in accordance with the will of him who grants them.

64 Nullum tempus occurrit regi No time runs against the king- it means that the crown can proceed with actions that would be barred if brought by an individual due to the passage of time.

65 Pari materia Upon the same matter or subject.66 Nova constitutio futuris forman imponere

debet non praeteritis.A new statute should affect the future, not the past

67 Nullum crimen sine poena, nulla poena sine legi

There is no crime without a penalty, and there is no penalty with-out a law.

68 Leges posteriors priores contraria ab Later statute repeals prior ones which are repugnant thereto

69 Generalia specialibus non derogant A general law does not nullify a specific or special law70 Ubi jus ibi remidium Where there is right, there is remedy.