“STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION ‘the people should have been apprised of this issuance before it was implemented. Conclusion Congress undoubtedly has aright to information from the ‘executive branch whenever it is sought in aid of legislation. If the executive branch withholds euch information onthe ground that itis privileged, it must so asert it and state the reason therefor and why it must be respected. ‘The infirm provisions of £.0. 464, however, allow the executive branch to evade congressional requeste for {information without neod of clearly asserting a right to do 30 andlor proffering its reesons therefor. By the mere expedient of invoking said provisions, the power of Congress to conduct ‘inguiriesinsidoflegislation frustrated. Thatis impermissible For [wht republican thoory did aecomplish.was to reverse the old presumption in favor of seerecy, based on the divine right ofkings and nobles, and replace it with a presumption in favor of publicity, based on the doctrine of popular sovereignty. (Wnderseoring supplied) Resort to any means then by which oficial ofthe executive ‘branch could refuse to divulge information eannot be pruned valid. Otherwise, we shall not have merely nullified the power of our legislature to inquire inta the operations of goverament, Dut we shall have given up something of much greater value our right as a people ta take part in government. GLOSSARY OF MAXIMS Abeolutasententa expositore non indiget — When language of law is ‘clear, no explanation oft is required Actus me inito factus non est meus actus — An act done by me ‘against my willis not my act. Actus non fact rum, nisl mens sit rea — The act itself does not ‘make a man gulty unless his intention were so. ‘Ad proximum antecedene flat relatio nisi impediatur sententia “T’Relative words refer tothe nearest antecedents, unless the context otherwise requires. “Argumentum a contrario ~ Negative-opposite doctrine Casus omiseus pro omio habendus ert ~ A person, object or thing ‘omitted from an estieration must be held ta have boon ‘omitted intentionally Cessante ratione legis, cesta et ipea lex — When the reason of the Taw ceases, the lave itself ceases. Contemporanea expositio et optima et fortssima in lege — The ‘contemporary construction i strongeet inlaw. istingue tespora ot concordabie jura — Distinguish times and you ‘will harmonize laws. Dura lor sed lex — The law may be harsh, but that isthe law. jusdem generis — Of the same kind or specie. -Bxcepto frat regulam in casibus non excepts — A thing not being ‘excepted must be regarded as coming within the purview ofthe (general rule [Bx dolo malo non ortur acto — No man can be allowed to found a ‘lalm upoa his own wrongdoing. Expressio unius ett exelusio alterius — The express mention of ‘one person, thing or consequence implies the excusion of all, thersvw “STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION ‘Bxpressum fait cessor tacitum — What i expressed puts an end to ‘that whieh is implied. ‘Ex necessitate legis — By necessary implication of law. alsa demonstratio non nocet, cum de corpore constat — False description does not preclude construction nor vitate the meaning of the statute Favores ampliandi sunt; odia restringenda — Penal laws which are favorable tothe accused are given retroactive effect. Generate dictum generaliter et interpretandum — A general statement is understood in a general sense. Generaliaverba sunt generaiter intelligenda — What is generally ‘spoken shall be generally understood, Generaliaspeialibus non derogant ~ A general law doesnot nullify ‘specific or special law, Hoc quidem perquam durum est, ed ita lex seripta est — It is ‘exceedingly hard but co the law is writen “Inpossibilium nulla cbligatio est — There is no obligation todo an Impossible thing {Index animi sermo est — Speech is the index of intention. {In co quod plus sit, semper inest et minus ~The greater includes the lesser, Interest eipublicae ut sit ins lium — Public interest requires that by the very nature of things there must be an end to legal controversy. Interpotare et concordarelegibus est optimus interpotand modus — Every statute must be so construed and harmonized with other statutes as to form uniform systema of law. Interpretatio fiend est ut res magis valeat quam pereat — law should be interpreted with a view to upholding rather than destroying it. Interprtatio talis in ambiguis semper finda est ut evitetur fnconveniens et absurdum — Where there is ambiguity, such {interpretation as will voi inconvenience and absurdity is be adopted CoLossaRy OF wAXINS ma Legis interpretatio legis vim obtinet — The authoritative Interpretation ofthe court ofa statute acquires the force of law by bocoming a part thereof, Legesposteriores priorescontrarias abrogant — A tater law repeals ‘prior law on the same subject whichis repugnant thereto. ‘Lex de futuro, judex de praterito ~ The law provides forthe future, ‘the judge forthe past. Lex prospicit,nonrespicit — The law looks forward, not backward Moledicta est expositio quae corrumpit textum — It is dangerous ‘onstruction whichis against the text ‘Noseitur a soits — Word construed with reference to accompanying or sociated words Nova constitutio future formam imponeredebet non prasteriis — A. new statute should affect the future, not the past. [Nullus commedum potest de injuria propriasua — No man should ‘be allowed to take advantage of his own wrong. ‘Nallu crimen sine poena, nulla poene sine lege — There ie no crime ‘without penalty, and there is no penalty without a law. ‘Nall tempus oceurit regi ~ There ean be no legal right as against ‘the authority that makes the law on which the right depends, Optima statuti interpretatrie est ipeum statutum — Tae best interpreter ofa statute is the statute iteel. Optimus interpres rerum usus — The best interpreter ofthe law is ‘usage, Pari materia — Relating to same matter Privilegia reciprint largan inerpretationem voluntate consonan ‘concedentis ~ Privileges are to be interpreted in accordance ‘ith the will ofhim who grant them, ‘Potor est in tempore, potior et injure — He who is fist in time is ‘referred in right. Quando aliquid prohibetur ex directo, prohibetur et per obliquum — What is prohibited directly is prohibited indirect. ‘Ratihabito mandato aquiparatur ~ Legislative rtifeation is equiv- ‘lent to a mandateme STATUTORY coxsmmucTiON Ratio legis — Interpretation according to spirit. ‘Ratio leg ext anima legis — The reason ofthe law ists soul ‘Reddendo singula singulis ~ Referring each to each; referring each ‘phrase or expression tit appropriate objet; or let ech be put {nits proper place. ‘Salus populi et suprema ler —The voice ofthe peoples the supreme iw ‘Surplusagium non nocet — Surplusage doesnot viiat a statute. ‘Stare decisis et non quieta movere — Fellow past precedents and do not disturb what has been sted. {bi jus, ii remedium — Where there is aright, there is a remedy. Ubi lex non distinguit, nec nos ditinguere debemus — Where the law does not distinguish, we should not distinguish. tile per inutile non vititur — The useful is not vitiated by the ‘non-use Ut res magis valeat quam pereat —'That construction isto be sought ‘which gives effect to the whole of the statute — is every word Verba aceipienda sunt secundum subjectam materiam — A word is ‘tobe understood in the context in which it is used ‘Verba intention, none contra, debent inervire — Words ought to the more subservient to the intent and not the intent to the sword Verba legs — Plain-meaning rule, Vigilantibus et non dormientibusjura subveniunt — The laws aid ‘the vigilant, not those who slumber on thei rights, Verba. legis non est recedendum — From the words of the statute ‘there should be no departure ‘SUBJECT INDEX Absolute Government, 42 ‘Administrative Power, 38, 58 ‘Administrative Rules and Regulations purpose and requirement of validity, 42 distinctions with administrative interpretation of law, 62 Adopted Statute defined, 392 rales on adopting foreign statutes, 185 limitations, 186, liberal construction of, 445 Ambiguity, 124 ‘Amendatory Act ‘onstraction, 532 prospectivity of the act, 583 “Amendment defined, 529, 657 xpress amendment, 529 by implication, 580 time of effect, 631 ‘manner of construing amendments, 531 ‘ellect, 128 ‘on all administrative orders of the ombudeman, 128 ‘execution pending appeal, 128, Appeal Statutes, 627 ‘Argumentum a Contrario (Negative-Opposite Doctrine), 824