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 mae a man
guilty unless his intention were so
Ad proximum antecedend fiat relation nisi impediatur sententia !elative words
refer to the nearest antecedents, unless the context otherwise requires
Argumento a contrario negative"opposite doctrine
#asus omissus pro omisso habendus est A person, ob$ect or thing omitted
from an enumerationmust be held to have been omitted intentionally%
#essante ratione legis, cessat ipsa lex When the reason of the law ceases, the
law itself ceases
#entemporanea exposito est optima et fortissima in lege the contemporary
construction is strongest in law
&istingue tempora et concordabis $ura distinguish times and you will harmoni'e
laws
&ura lex sed lex the law may be harsh, but that is the law
($usdem generic of the same ind or specie
(xception firmat regulam in casibus non exceptis a thing not being excepted
must be regarded as coming within the purview of the general rule
(x dolo malo non oritur action no man can be allowed to found a claim upon
his own wrongdoing
(xpressio unius est exclusion alterius the express mention of one person, thing
or consequence implies the exclusion of all others
(xpressum facit cessare tacitum what is expressed puts an end to that which is
implied
(x necessitate legis by necessary implication of law
)alsa demontratio non nocet, cum de corpore constat false description does
not preclude construction not vitiate the meaning of the statute
)avores ampliandi sunt* odia restringenda penal laws which are favorable to
the accused are given retroactive effect%
+enerale dictum generaliter est interpretandum A general statement is
understood in a general sense%
+eneralia specialibus non derogant A general law does not nullify a specific or
special law%
,oc quidem perquam durum est, sed ita lex scripta est -t is exceedingly hard
but so the law is written%
-mpossibilium nulla obligatio est There is no obligation to do an impossible
thing%
-ndex animi sermo est .peech is the index of intention%
-n eo quod plus sit, semper inest et minus The greater includes the lesser%
-nterest reipublicae ut sit finis litium /ublic interest requires that by the very
nature of things there must be an end to a legal controversy%
STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION
ATTY. J. O. LOPEZ
-nterpotare et concordare legibus est optimus interpotandi modus (very statute
must be construed and harmoni'ed with other statutes as to form uniform system
of law%
-nterpretatio fienda est ut res magis valeat quam pereat A law should be
interpreted with a view to upholding rather destroying it%
-nterpretatio 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 sub$ect which is repugnant thereto%
Lex de futuro, $udex de praterito The law provides for the future, the $udge for
the past%
Lex prospicit, non respicit The law loos forward, not bacward%
Maledicta est expositio quae corrumpit textum -t is dangerous construction
which is against the text%
0oscitur a sociis Word construed with reference to accompanying or
associated words%
0ova constitutio futuris formam imponere debet non praeteritis A new statute
should affect the future, not the past%
0ullus commodum potest de in$uria propriasua 0o man should be allowed to
tae advantage of his own wrong%
0ullum crimen sine poena, nulla poena sine legis There is no crime without a
penalty, and there is no penalty without a law%
0ullum tempus occurit regi There can be no legal right as against the authority
that maes the law on which the right depends%
1ptima statuti interpretatrix est ipsum statutum The best interpreter of a statute
is the statute itself%
1ptimus interpres rerum usus The best interpreter of the law is usage%
/ari materia !elating to same matter%
/rivilegia reciprint largan interpretationem voluntate consonan concedentis
/rivileges are to be interpreted in accordance with the will of him who grants
them%
/otior est tempoe, potior est in $ure he who is first in time is preferred in right%
2uando aliquid prohibetur ex directo, prohibetur et per obliquum What is
prohibited directly is prohibited indirectly%
!atihabito mandato aquiparatur Legislative ratification is equivalent to a
mandate%
!atio legis -nterpretation according to spirit%
!atio legis est anima legis The reason of the law is its soul%
!eddendo singula singulis !effering each to each* referring each phrase or
expression to its appropriate ob$ect* or let each be put in its proper place%
.alus populi est suprema lex The voice of the people is the supreme law%
.urplusagium non nocet .urplusage does not vitiate a statute%
STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION
ATTY. J. O. LOPEZ
.tare decisis et non quieta movere )ollow past precedents and do not disturb
what has been settled%
3bi $us, ibi remedium Where there is a right, there is a remedy%
3bi lex non distinguit, nec nos distinguere debemus Where the law does not
distinguish, we should not distinguish%
3tile per inutile non vitiatur The useful is not vitiated by the non"useful%
3t res magis valeat quam pereat That construction is to be sought which gives
effect to the whole of the statute its every word%
4erba accipienda sunt secundum sub$ectam materiam A word is to be
understood in the context in which it is used%
4erba intentioni, non e contra, debent inservire Words ought to be more
subservient to the intent and not the intent to the words%
4erba legis plain"meaning rule%
4igilantibus et non dormientibus $ura subveniunt the laws aid the vigilant, not
those who slumber on their rights%
4erba legis non est recedendum )rom the words of the statute there should be
no departure%