statutory interpretation flashcards

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1
Q

what is statutory interpretation?

A

it is the interpretation by judges of statutes created by parliament

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2
Q

who makes up parliament?

A

-house of commons
-house of lords
-the king

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3
Q

what are some examples of statutory interpretation acts?

A

-the theft act 1968
-the terrorism act 2000
-the equality act 2010
-the human rights act 1998
-the companies act 2006

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4
Q

why does statutory interpretation happen?

A

because sometimes statues are vague, confusing or poorly written

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5
Q

what problems may cause statutory interpretation to happen?

A

-a broad term
-ambiguity
-drafting errors
-changes in the use of language
-new inventions/technology

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6
Q

what are the 4 rules the judge will follow?

A

-the literal rule
-the golden rule
-the mischief rule
-the purposive approach

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7
Q

what is the literal rule?

A

-the judge will apply the dictionary meaning to the words in the statute, even if it creates an absurd result

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8
Q

what are the 2 cases for the literal rule?

A

-LNER v Berriman
-Cheeseman v DPP

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9
Q

what is the golden rule?

A

-it starts by looking at the literal meaning of the words in the act but if that would produce an absurd result, the court can either use the narrow approach or the broad approach

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10
Q

what is the narrow approach?

A

if a phrase has 2 or more meanings the judge will choose the most appropriate meaning to fit the case

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11
Q

what is the case for the narrow approach?

A

R v Allen

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12
Q

what is the broad approach?

A

where the word only has one literal meaning but using that meaning would produce an absurd result, the court can then modify the meaning of the word

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13
Q

what is the case for broad approach?

A

Re Sigsworth

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14
Q

what is the mischief rule?

A

where judges look at what problem the act created to stop - what mischief it was designed to remedy

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15
Q

what are the 3 cases for the mischief rule?

A

-Heydons case
-Smith v Hughes
-Royal College of Nursing v DHSS

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16
Q

what is the purposive approach?

A

where judges consider parliaments purpose in creating an act - what were they trying to achieve

17
Q

what are the 2 cases for the purposive approach?

A

-Jones v Tower Boot
-R v Registrar General ex parte Smith

18
Q

what are the 2 types of aids to interpretation?

A

-intrinsic aids -inside the act
-extrinsic aids -outside the act being interpreted

19
Q

what are the 5 types of intrinsic aids?

A

-short title
-long title
-headings
-marginal notes
-definitions section

20
Q

what are 3 examples of extrinsic aids?

A

-dictionary - DPP v Cheeseman
-law commission reports
-hansard

21
Q

what is hansard and what is the case example?

A

-a record of all proceedings in HoC and HoL, including when a bill is being debated
-Davis v Johnson

22
Q

when is hansard allowed to be used according to Pepper v Hart

A

-where the words of an act are unclear & would lead to an absurdity
-there is a statement in hansard relating to the statute in question
-that statement would resolve the ambiguity

23
Q

what are the 2 cases for the law commission?

A

-Black-Clawson International Ltd v Papierwerke
-DPP v Bull