Skip to content

CSEET · Business Laws and Management · Introduction to Law

Under the literal rule of interpretation of statutes, a court:

Under the literal rule, the court gives the words of the statute their natural, plain and ordinary meaning, even if the outcome seems harsh. The court assumes the legislature meant what it said and does not rewrite the provision.

  1. ALooks first at the mischief the Act wanted to remedy and then reads the words
  2. BGives the words of the statute their natural and ordinary meaning, even if the result seems harshCorrect
  3. CReads the Act so that it produces the most just result in every case
  4. DInterprets a general word only in the light of the specific words that precede it

Explanation

The literal rule requires courts to apply the plain, ordinary meaning of the words used by the legislature, without adding or subtracting anything, even when the result appears hard. The mischief option describes the mischief (Heydon's) rule, and the last option describes the ejusdem generis rule.

Did you get it right without looking?

One question tells you little. A timed set on Introduction to Law shows your real accuracy, how long you take and where you lose marks.

Practise Introduction to LawFree diagnostic mock

More Introduction to Law questions