Verba Legis

Plain-meaning rule Verba Intentioni

When the law is clear, plain and free
from ambiguity, there’s no need for
construction, only interpretation.
Because the duty of the courts is to
apply the law in its literal meaning and
take the law as what it is when it is
clear, plain and free from ambiguity.
Words shall be willing to follow the
intent, and not the intent to the
words.
Ratione Cessat Lex Et Cessat
When the reason of the law ceases,
the law itself ceases.
Contemporanea Expositio Est Optima

Legis Interpretado Legis Vimobtinet Contemporaneous Construction is the

strongest in law.
The interpretation of the Supreme
Court becomes part of the law of the
land, and is binding to all the lower Optimus Interpres Rerum Usus
courts.
The best interpreter of law is its usage.
Stare Decisis
When the Supreme Court has once
laid down a principle applicable to a Index Animi Sermo
certain set of facts, it will adhere to Speech is the index of the law.
that principle and apply it to all its
Dura Lex Sed Lex
future cases with almost the same or
similar set of substantial facts. The law may be harsh, but it is the law.
Hoc Quidem Prequam Durum
Lex Prospicit Non Respicit It is exceedingly hard but so the law is
written.
The law looks forward not backward.
Ratio Legis
The reason of the law is its soul.
Nemo Tenetur Ad Imposible
The law obliges no one to do the
impossible.
Ex Necessitate Legis – Doctrine of
Necessary Implication
What is implied in the statute is as
much as part of it as that what it is
expressed.
What is implied should not be against
the law as long as it is constitutional.
In Eo Guod Plus Sit Inest Etminus
The greater includes the lesser.
Generale Dictum Generaliter Est
Interpretandum
What is generally spoken must be
generally understood.
Generalia Verba Sunt Generaliter
Intelligenda
A general statement is understood in
a general sense.
Ubi Lex Non Disinguit
Where the law does distinguish, the
courts shall not distinguish.
The legislature made no classification
in the use of a general word or
expression.
Verba Accipienda Sunt Secundum
Materiam
A word is to be understood in the
context in which it is used.
Noscitur A Sociis
Where the law does not define a
word, or if a word is ambiguous in its
meaning, it will be construed as having
meaning similar to that of he words
accompanied by it.
Ejusdem Generis
When a general word follows an
enumeration of particular and specific
words of the same class, it is to be
restricted to persons, things or cases
of the same kind as those specifically
mentioned.
Expressio Unius Est exclusio alterius
Express mention of one person, thing
or consequence implies the exclusion
of all the others.
-known as the negative opposite
doctrine
Casus Omissus pro Omisso Habendus
Est
A person, object, or thing omitted
from an enumeration must be held to
have been omitted intentionally.
Ad proximum antecedens
Relative words refer to the nearest
antecedent, unless the context
otherwise requires.
The use of comma to separate
antecedent from the rest exerts a
dominant influence in this doctrine
Redendo Singal Singulis
Referring each to each
Let each be put in its proper places
Words should be taken distributively
Proviso
- To limit or restrict the general
language or operation of the
statute, not to enlarge it
- Provided, but nothing herein
Pari Materia
When the relate to the same person or
thing, have the same purpose, or
object, or cover the same specific or
particular subject matter
Optima Statuti interpretatix
The best interpreter of a statute is the
statute itself.
Interpretare et concordance leges
Every statute must be so construed
and harmonized with other statutes as
to form a uniform system of
jurisprudence.
Distingue Tempora et concordabis
jura
When 2 or more statures on the same
subject were enacted at different
times and under dissimilar
circumstances or conditions, their
interpretations should be in
accordance with the circumstances
and conditions peculiar to each.
Ut Res Magis Valeat
That Construction is to be sought
which gives effect to the whole of the
statute.

Interpretatio Fienda Est ut Res Magis

A portion of a statute should not be
construed to destroy the other.
A law should be interpreted with a
view upholding rather than destroying
it.