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Chapter II
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 CONSTRUCTION
Chapter IV
TATION
Hoc quidem perquam durum est, sed ita lex scripta est.
It is exceedingly hard, but so the law is written.
Quando verba statute sunt speciali, ratio autem generalia, statum generaliter es
t intelligendum.
When the words used in a statute are special, but the purpose of the law is gene
ral, it should be read as the general expression.
Where there is ambiguity, the interpretation of such that will avoid inconvenien
ces and absurdity is to be adopted.
14. Jurae naturae aequum est neminem cum alterius detrimento et injuria fieri lo
cupletiorem.
It is certainly not agreeable to natural justice that a stranger should reap the
pecuniary produce of another man s work.
17. Ibi quid generaliter conceditur, inest haec exception, si non aliquid sit co
ntras jus basque.
Where anything is granted generally, exemption from rigid application of law is
implied; that nothing shall be contrary to law and right.
C. IMPLICATIONS
20. Ex necessitate legis.
By the necessary implication of law.
Cui jurisdiction data est, ea quoque concessa esse videntur sine quibus jurisdic
tion explicari non potuit.
When jurisdiction is given, all powers and means essential to its exercise are a
lso given.
Chapter V
A. IN GENERAL
24. Generalia verba sunt generaliter intelligenda.
General words should be understood in their general sense.
Generis dictum generaliter est interpretandum.
A general statement is understood in its general sense.
25. Verba accipienda sunt secundum subjectam materiam.
A word is to be understood in the context in which it is used.
Verba mere aequivoca, si per communem usum loquendi in intellectu certo
sumuntur, talis intellectus preferendus est.
Equivocal words or those with double meaning are to be understood
according to their common and ordinary sense.
Verba artis ex arte.
Words of art should be explained from their usage in the art to which they belon
g.
Verba generalia restringuntur ad habilitatem rei vel personam.
General words should be confined according to the subject-matter or persons to w
hich they relate.
26. Ubi lex non distinguit necnon distinguere debemus.
Where the law does not distinguish, the courts should not distinguish.
27. Dissimilum dissimilis est ratio.
Of things dissimilar, the rule is dissimilar.
B. ASSOCIATED WORDS
Chapter VI
STATUTE CONSIDERED AS A WHOLE IN RELATION TO OTHER STATUTES
A. STATUTE CONSTRUED AS A WHOLE
36. Optima statute interpretatrix est ipsum statutum.
Injustum est, nisi tota lege inspecta, de una aliqua ejus particula proposita in
dicare vel respondere.
It is unjust to decide or to respond as to any particular part of a law without
examining the whole of the law.
Nemo enim aliquam partem recte intelligere possit antequam totum interum atque i
nterim perlegit.
The sense and meaning of the law is collected by viewing all the parts together
as one whole and not of one part only by itself.
Mutatis mutandis.
With the necessary changes.
Chapter VII
A. IN GENERAL
40. Salus populi est suprema lex.
The voice of the people is the supreme law.
Chapter VIII
MANDATORY AND DIRECTIONAL STATUTES
A. MANDATORY STATUTES
45. Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt.
The law aids the vigilant, not those who slumber on their rights.
Chapter IX
A. IN GENERAL
46. Lex prospicit, non respicit.
The law looks forward, not backward.
Leges quae retrospciunt, et magna cum cautione sunt adhibendae neque enim janus
locatur in legibus.
Laws which are retrospective are rarely and cautiously received, for Janus has r
eally no place in the laws.
Leges et constitutiones futuris certum est dare formam negotiis, non ad facta pr
aeterita revocari, nisi nominatim et de praeterito tempore et adhuc pendentibus
negotiis cautum sit.
Laws should be construed as prospective, not retrospective, unless they are expr
essly made applicable to past transactions and to such as are still pending.
Chapter X
A. REPEAL
49. Leges posteriores priores contrarias abrogant.
Later statutes repeal prior ones which are repugnant thereto.
Jus constitui oportet in his quae ut plurimum accidunt non quae ex inordinato.
Laws ought to be made with a view to those cases which happen most frequently, a
nd not to those which are of rare or accidental occurrence.