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Latin Maxims

Chapter II CONSTRUCTION AND INTERPRETATION


B. POWER TO CONSTRUE
1. Legis interpretatio legis vim obtinet.
Judicial construction and interpretation of a
statute acquires the force of law.
Chapter III AIDS TO CONSTRUCTION
C. CONTEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION
2. Contemporanea expositio est optima et
fortissima in lege.
Contemporary construction is strongest in
law.
Optima est legum interpres consuetudo.
Custom is the best interpreter of a statute.
Regula pro lege, si deficit lex.
In default of the law, the maxim rules.
3. Optimus interpres rerum usus.
The best interpreter of the law is usage.
Communis error facit jus.
Common error sometimes passes as current
law.
quod ab initio non valet in tractu temporis non
convalesait.
That which was originally void, does not by
lapse
of time become valid.
4. Ratihabitio mandato aequiparatur.
Legislative ratification is equivalent to a
mandate.
5. Stare decisis et non quieta movere.
Follow past precedents and do not disturb
what
has been settled.
interest reipublicae ut sit finis litium.
The interest of the state demands that there
be an
end to litigation.
Chapter IV ADHERENCE TO, OR DEPARTURE FROM,
LANGUAGE OF STATUTE LITERAL INTERPRETATION
6. Index animi sermo est.
Speech is the index of intention.
Animus hominis est anima scripti.
The intention of the party is the soul.
Verba legis non est recedendum.
From the words of the statute there should
be no
departure.

maledicta est exposition quae corrumpit


textum.
It is bad construction which corrupts the
text.
Littera scripta manet.
The written word endures.
Clausula rebus sic stantibus.
Things thus standing.
7. absoluta sententia expositore non indiget.
When the language of the law is clear, no
explanation is required.
Dura lex sed lex.
The law may be harsh but it is the law.
Hoc quidem perquam durum est, sed ita lex
scripta est.
It is exceedingly hard, but so the law is
written.
B. DEPARTURE FROM LITERAL INTERPRETATION
8. Aequitas nunquam contravenit legis.
Equity never acts in contravention of the
law.
Aequum et bonum est lex legum.
What is good and equal is the law of laws.
jus est ars boni et aequi.
Law is the art of equity.
9. Ratio legis est anima legis.
The reason of the law is the soul of the law.
Littera necat spiritus vivificate.
The letter kills but the spirit gives life.
Verba intentioni, non e contra, debent
inservice.
Words ought to be more subservient to the
intent, and not the intent to the words.
Benignus leges interpretandae sunt, quod
voluntas eraum conservetur.
Laws are to be construed liberally, so that
their
spirit and reason be preserved.
qui haeret in litera haeret in cortice.
He who considers merely the letter of an
instrument goes but skin deep into its
meaning.

Quando verba statute sunt speciali, ratio


autem generalia, statum generaliter est
intelligendum.
When the words used in a statute are
special, but
the purpose of the law is general, it
should be read
as the general expression.
10. cessante ratione legis cessat et ipsa lex.
When the reason of the law ceases, the law
itself
ceases.
11. Interpretatio talis in ambiguis simper fienda
est ut evitetur inconveniens et absurdum.
Where there is ambiguity, the interpretation
of
such that will avoid inconveniences and
absurdity
is to be adopted.
Legis construction non facit injuriam.
The construction of the law will not be such
as to
work injury or injustice.
argumentum ab inconvenienti plurimum valet
in lege.
An argument drawn from inconvenience is
forcible in law.
Verba nihil operari melius est quam absurde.
It is better that words should have no
operation at
all than that they should operate
absurdly.
lex semper intendit quod convenit ratione.
The law always intends that which is in
accordance with reason.
Ubi eadem ratio ibi idem jus.
Like reason doth make like law.
Argumentum a simili valet in lege.
An argument drawn from a similar case, or
analogy, prevails in law.
De similibus idem est judicium.
Concerning similars, the judgment is the
same.
ubi eadem est legis ratio ibi eadem est legis
dispositio.
Where there is the same reason, there is the
same
law
12. Ea est accipienda interpretation quae vitio
caret.
That interpretation is to be adopted which is
free
from evil or injustice.
lex iniusta non est lex.

An unjust law is not a law.


13. Fiat justitia, ruat caelum .
Let right be done, though the heavens fall.

Impossibilum nulla obigatio est.


There is no obligation to do an impossible
thing.

nemo est supra leges.


Nobody is above the law.

Lex non cogit ad impossibilia.


The law does not require an impossibility.

Nulla potential supra legis esse debet.


No power must be above the law.

Lex non intendit aliquid impossible.


The law does not intend the impossible.

14. Jurae naturae aequum est neminem cum


alterius
detrimento
et
injuria
fiery
locupletiorem.
It is certainly not agreeable to natural
justice that a
stranger should reap the pecuniary
produce of
another mans work.

C. IMPLICATIONS
20. Ex necessitate legis.
By the necessary implication of law.

15. Surplusagium non nocet.


Surplusage does not vitiate a statute.
Utile per inutile non vitiatur.
The useful is not vitiated by the non-useful.

Cui jurisdiction data est, ea quoque concessa


esse videntur sine quibus jurisdiction explicari
non potuit.
When jurisdiction is given, all powers and
means essential to its exercise are also given.

16. Falsa demostratio non nocet, cum de


corpore constat.
False
description
does
not
preclude
construction
nor vitiate the meaning of
the statute.
Nil facit error nominis cum de corpora vel
persona constat.
Error in name does not make an instrument
inoperative
when
the
description
is
sufficiently
clear.
Certum est quod certum reddi potest.
That is sufficiently certain which can be
made
certain.
17. Ibi quid generaliter conceditur, inest haec
exception, si non aliquid sit contras jus
basque.
Where anything is granted generally,
exemption
from rigid application of law is
implied; that nothing
shall be contrary to law
and right.
18. Summum jus, summa injuria.
The rigor of the law would be the highest
injustice.
Jus summum saepe, summa est militia.
Extreme law is often extreme wrong.
19. Nemo tenetur ad impossibilia.
The law obliges no one to perform an
impossibility.

In eo quod plus sit, simper inest et minus.


The greater includes the lesser.

21. Ubi jus, ibi remedium.


Where there is a right, there is a remedy for
violation thereof.
Ubi jus incertum, ibi jus nullum.
Where the law is uncertain, there is no right.
22. Ex dolo malo non oritur action.
An action does not arise from fraud.
Nullius commodum capere potest de injuria sua
propria.
No one may derive advantage from his own
unlawful act.
In pari delicto potior est condition defendentis.
Where the parties are equally at fault, the
position of the defending party is the better one.
23. Quando aliquid prohibetur ex directo,
prohibetur et per obliquum.
What cannot, by law, be done directly
cannot be
done indirectly.
Chapter V INTERPRETATION OF WORDS AND
PHRASES
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 belong.
Verba generalia restringuntur ad habilitatem
rei vel personam.
General words should be confined according
to
the subject-matter or persons to which 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
28. Noscitur a sociis.
A thing is known by its associates.
29. Ejusdem generis.
Of the same kind or specie.
30. 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.
31. Argumentum a contrario.
Negative-Opposite
Doctrine:
what
is
expressed
puts an end to that which is
implied.
32. Cassus omissus pro omisso habendus est.

A person, object or thing omitted from an


enumeration must be held to have been
omitted intentionally.
33. Ad proximum antecedens fiat relatio nisi
impediatur sentential.
A qualifying word or phrase should be
understood
as
referring
to
the
nearest
antecedent.
34. Reddendo singular singulis.
Referring each to each, or referring each
phrase or expression to its appropriate object, or let
each
be put in its proper place.
C. PROVISOS, EXCEPTIONS AND SAVING CLAUSES
35. Exceptio firmat regulam in casibus non
exceptis.
A thing not being expected must be
regarded as
coming within the purview of the
general rule.
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.
The best interpreter of the statute is the
statute itself.
Ex tota materia emergat resolution.
The exposition of a statute should be made
from
all its parts put together.
Injustum est, nisi tota lege inspecta, de una
aliqua ejus particula proposita indicare 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 interim atque interim
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.
Ex antecendentibus et consequentibus fit
optima interpretation.
A passage will be best interpreted by
reference to
that which precedes and follows it.
Verba posterima propter certitudinem addita
ad priora quae certitudine indigent sunt
referenda.

of

Reference should be made to a subsequent


section in order to explain a previous clause
which the meaning is doubtful.

37. Interpretatio fienda est ut res magis valeat


quam pereat.
A law should be interpreted with a view of
upholding rather than destroying it.
B.
STATUTE
CONSTRUED
IN
RELATION
CONSTITUTION AND OTHER STATUTES
38. Pari materia.
Of the same matter.

TO

Interpretare et concordare leges legibus est


optimus interpretandi modus.
Every statute myst be so construed and
harmonized with other statutes as to form a
uniform system of law.
39. Distingue tempora et concordabis jura.
Distinguish times and you will harmonize law.
- Tempora mutantur et leges mutantur in illis.
- Times have changed and laws have changed with
them.
Mutatis mutandis.
With the necessary changes
Chapter VII STRICT OR LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION
A. IN GENERAL
40. Salus populi est suprema lex.
The voice of the people is the supreme law.
Statuta
pro
publico
commodo
late
interpretantur.
Statutes enacted for the publc good are to be
construed liberally.
Privatum incommodum publico bono pensatur.
The private interests of the individual must give way
to the accommodation of
the public.
B. STATUTES STRICTLY CONSTRUED
41. Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea.
The act does not make a person guilty unless the
mind is also guilty.
Actus me invito facturs non est meus actus.
An act done by me against my will is not my act.
42. Privilegia recipiunt largam interpretationem
voluntate consonem concedentis.
Privileges are to be interpreted in accordance with
the will of him who grants
them.
Renunciatio non praesumitur.
Renunciation cannot be presumed.
43. Strictissimi juris.
Follow the law strictly.
44. Nullum tempus occurit regi.
There can be no legal right as against the authority
that makes the law on

which the right depends.


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.
Potior est in tempore, potior est in jure.
He who is first in time is preferred in right.
Chapter IX PROSPECTIVE AND RETROACTIVE
STATUTES
A. IN GENERAL
46. Lex prospicit, non respicit.
The law looks forward, not backward.
Lex de futuro, judex de praeterito.
The law provides for the future, the judge
for the past.
- Nova constitutio futuris formam imponere
debet non praeteritis.
- A new statute should affect the future, not
the
past.
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 really 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 adhuc pendentibus negotiis cautum
sit.
Laws should be construed as prospective,
not
retrospective, unless they are expressly
made
applicable to past transactions and to such
as are still pending.
B. STATUTES GIVEN PROSPECTIVE EFFECT
47. Nullum crimen sine poena, nulla poena sine
lege.
There is no crime without a penalty, there is
no
penalty without a law.
48.
Favorabilia
sunt
amplianda,
odiosa
restringenda.
Penal laws which are favorable to the
accused are
given retroactive effect.
Chapter X AMENDMENT, REVISION, CODIFICATION
AND REPEAL
A. REPEAL

49. Leges posteriores priores contrarias


abrogant.
Later statutes repeal prior ones which are
repugnant thereto.
50. Generalia specialibus non derogant.
A general law does not nullify a specific or
special law.
BINDING FORCE OF RULES OF INTERPRETATION AND
CONSTRUCTION
A. Ignorantia legis neminem excusat.
Ignorance of the law excuses no one.
LANGUAGE OF STATUTE WHEN AMBIGUOUS
B. In obscuris inspici solere quod versimilius
est, aut quod plerumque fieri solet.

When matters are obscure, it is customary


to take what appears to be more likely or what
usually often happens.

cases
those

Ambiguitas verborum patens nulla verification


excluditur.
A patent ambiguity cannot be cleared up by
extrinsic evidence.

Quod semel aut bis existit praetereunt


legislatores.
Legislators pass over what happens only
once or twice.

PRESUMPTION AGAINST INJUSTICE AND HARDSHIP


C. Ad ea quae frequentibus accidunt jura
adaptatur.
Laws are understood to be adapted to those
cases
which most frequently occur.

De minimis non curat lex.


The law does not concern itself with trifling
matters.

Jus constitui oportet in his quae ut plurimum


accidunt non quae ex inordinato.

Laws ought to be made with a view to those


which happen most frequently, and not to
which are of rare or accidental occurrence.

TITLE OF THE ACT (INTRINSIC AID)


D. Nigrum Nunquam Excedere Debet Rubrum.
The black (body of the act printed in black)
should never go beyond the red (title or rubric of
the
statute printed in red

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