Understanding Statutes And Laws

Summary

In the Philippines, a statute is a specific type of law enacted by Congress, while law is a broader term encompassing statutes, ordinances, and regulations. Statutes like Republic Acts are passed through a legislative process involving Congress and the President. Statutory construction involves interpreting laws using principles like ejusdem generis and noscitur a sociis. The case of Mutuc vs. Comelec illustrates the application of ejusdem generis in interpreting election laws. Casus omissus refers to situations where a statute omits a specific case, and courts typically do not include omitted cases unless legislative intent is clear. Understanding these concepts helps in navigating legal interpretations and applications.

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so statute still not a law?
In the Philippines, a statute is indeed a type of law.
- Law: General term encompassing all legal norms (statutes, ordinances, regulations).
- Statute: A specific type of law passed by the legislative body like Congress.
Is there a specific statute or legal issue you are concerned about?
how is it different from other law like the RPC or rules of court or constitution
In the Philippines:
- Statute: Specific laws passed by Congress.
- RPC (Revised Penal Code): Criminal law detailing offenses and penalties.
- Rules of Court: Procedures for the judiciary system.
- Constitution: Supreme law setting the framework for governance and individual rights.
Do you have a specific legal issue or case in mind?
example of statute in philippines
Sure! Here's an example of a statute in the Philippines:
Republic Act No. *: Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of *
- Protects women and their children from violence.
- Defines and penalizes various forms of abuse (physical, sexual, psychological, economic).
Is there a specific statute or type of law you are looking into?
more
Here's another example of a statute in the Philippines:

Republic Act No. *: Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act


- Protects children from abuse, exploitation, and discrimination.
- Defines and penalizes various forms of child abuse and exploitation.
Are you looking for information on a specific type of law or legal issue?
so republic acts are made by congress?
Yes, in the Philippines, Republic Acts are laws that are enacted by Congress. They go through a legislative process, including approval by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and are then signed into law by the President.
Do you have any specific legal issue or Republic Act you need more information on?
how does stature be approve?
To approve a statute in the Philippines, the following process is generally followed:
*. Proposal: A bill is proposed by a member of Congress.
*. Committee Review: The bill is reviewed and possibly amended by a committee.
*. House Approval: The bill is debated and voted on in the House of Representatives.
*. Senate Approval: If passed, it goes to the Senate for further debate and voting.
*. Presidential Approval: If both houses approve, the bill is sent to the President for signing into law.
Do you have any questions about a specific stage in this process?
three readings for statute to be a alaw?or is it bill
In the Philippines, both bills and statutes go through a "three readings" process before becoming law. The stages are:
*. First Reading: Introduction and referral to the appropriate committee.
*. Second Reading: Committee reports back; debates, amendments, and initial voting occur.
*. Third Reading: Final reading, debate, and voting.
Are you interested in the details of any specific stage?
bill vs statute
In the Philippines:
- Bill: A proposal for a new law or an amendment to existing law, introduced in Congress.
- Statute: A bill that has passed all legislative stages and has been signed into law by the President.
Would you like to know more about the legislative process or a specific law?
so bill is approved it became a statute?
Yes, that's correct. In the Philippines, once a bill is approved in both houses of Congress (the House of Representatives and the Senate) and signed by the President, it becomes a statute and is officially a law.
Do you have any further questions about the legislative process or a specific law?
what are teh latin maxim in statutory construction
Here are some Latin maxims used in statutory construction:
- Expressio unius est exclusio alterius: The expression of one thing is the exclusion of another.
- Noscitur a sociis: A word is known by the company it keeps.
- Ejusdem generis: Of the same kind or nature.
- Reddendo singula singulis: Referring each to each.
Do you need an example of how any of these maxims are applied in Philippine law?
what is latin maxims means
Latin maxims are traditional legal principles expressed in Latin that serve as interpretive tools in the legal field. They provide concise, general rules that help in the construction and interpretation of statutes and legal documents.
Would you like examples of how these maxims are applied in specific legal contexts in the Philippines?
so every law is a statute? or if its a presidential decree is that a statute or a provision in a RPC is that a statute,and not a law
In the Philippines:
- Law: Broad term encompassing statutes, presidential decrees, regulations, etc.
- Statute: Specific law passed by Congress.
- Presidential Decree: Law issued by the President, often during times of emergency.
- Provision in RPC: A rule within the Revised Penal Code, which is a type of law.
Do you need information on how these different types of laws are applied or enforced?
what is construction and interpreatation in statutury construnction and bit exampke
Construction and interpretation in statutory construction refer to the methods used to understand and apply the meaning of laws.
- Construction: The process of determining the legal effect of the statute.
- Interpretation: The method of determining the precise meaning of the words in the statute.
Example:
- Ejusdem generis: When a law lists specific categories followed by a general term, the general term is interpreted to include items of the same type as those listed.
Would you like an example of how a specific statute has been interpreted in Philippine law?
example of Construction and interpretation
Sure! Here’s an example of construction and interpretation in Philippine law:
Example: Republic Act No. * - Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act
- Construction: Determines that the law applies to both physical and psychological abuse.
- Interpretation: Courts may interpret "psychological violence" to include actions like harassment or stalking, not just physical harm.
Would you like more examples or details about a specific legal issue?
who will goes first construction or interpretation
In statutory construction, interpretation generally comes first. This is because you need to understand the precise meaning of the words and terms used in the statute before you can determine its legal effect and apply it in a specific context.
Do you need more information on how this process is applied in any specific law or legal context in the Philippines?
Note: The legislature is presumed to know the rules of construction in enacting a statute. The legislature enacts a law with the end in view that it will, in case of doubt, be construed in accordance with settled principles and rules established by legal hermeneutics.
It seems you're delving into the principles of statutory construction and interpretation. Given your note, here's a concise response addressing legal hermeneutics:
In statutory construction, it's presumed that the legislature understands and applies established interpretative rules. These principles guide how statutes should be understood, ensuring consistency and clarity in the legal system.
Would you like more information on specific principles or methods of statutory interpretation used in the Philippines?
construed mean
"Construed" means interpreting or understanding the meaning of words or phrases in a legal document, such as a statute. It involves determining what the legislature intended when they passed the law.
Would you like to know how a specific statute has been construed in Philippine law?
intrinsic aids and extrinsic aids and example
In statutory construction, intrinsic and extrinsic aids help in interpreting laws.
- Intrinsic Aids: Internal elements of the statute itself.
- Example: Preamble, definitions, schedules, and headings.

- Extrinsic Aids: External elements outside the statute.
- Example: Legislative history, earlier statutes, legal textbooks, and judicial decisions.
Is there a specific law you are looking to interpret using these aids?
what is law in general meaning
In general, law refers to a set of rules and principles established by a governing authority to regulate behavior, ensure order, and protect the rights and freedoms of individuals within a society. Laws can take various forms, including statutes, regulations, ordinances, and judicial decisions.
Do you need specific information about a particular type of law or legal issue in the Philippines?
wha is ejusdem generis and a bit examples
Ejusdem Generis is a Latin maxim used in statutory interpretation. It means "of the same kind or nature." When a law lists specific items followed by a general term, the general term is interpreted to include only items of the same type as those listed.
Example:
- If a law refers to "cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles," the term "other vehicles" would be interpreted to include only vehicles similar to cars, trucks, and motorcycles (e.g., not airplanes or boats).
Would you like more examples or information on another legal principle?
noscitur a sociis
"Noscitur a sociis" is a Latin maxim used in statutory construction, meaning "a word is known by the company it keeps." This principle suggests that the meaning of an ambiguous word or phrase should be determined by considering the words immediately surrounding it.
Example:
- If a law states "cars, trucks, and vehicles," the term "vehicles" would be interpreted in the context of "cars" and "trucks," likely excluding items not similar to cars and trucks.
Would you like more examples or information on another legal principle?
ejusdem generis conntec to mutuc vs comelec?how
The principle of "ejusdem generis" can be connected to the case of *Mutuc vs. Comelec* in the context of how the court interprets general terms following specific ones.
In this case, the Supreme Court of the Philippines applied the principle of ejusdem generis to interpret the scope of laws related to election offenses. The court examined the specific terms listed in the statute and interpreted the general terms in light of those specifics, ensuring the general terms were of the same nature as the specific ones listed.
Would you like more details on the *Mutuc vs. Comelec* case or how the principle was specifically applied?
story of mutuc vs comelec
The case of *Mutuc vs. Comelec* (G.R. No. L-*, November *, *) revolves around the interpretation of election laws.
Story of *Mutuc vs. Comelec*:
- Facts: Augusto Mutuc, a candidate for the Constitutional Convention, questioned the legality of Comelec's order limiting the duration of broadcast airtime for candidates.
- Issue: Whether the Comelec's order was valid and in accordance with the election laws.
- Ruling: The Supreme Court applied the principle of "ejusdem generis" to determine the scope of Comelec's regulatory powers. The Court held that Comelec could limit broadcast airtime to ensure fair elections, as the general terms in the statute were intended to cover similar regulatory measures.
Would you like more details on the ruling or its implications?
casus omisus meaning and example
"Casus omissus" is a Latin term meaning "a case omitted." It refers to a situation where a specific case or issue has not been addressed or provided for within a statute.
Example:
- If a law lists specific types of vehicles (cars, trucks, motorcycles) but omits bicycles, a bicycle might be considered a "casus omissus" if the law doesn't clearly apply to it.
Would you like more information on how "casus omissus" is applied in Philippine law?
so the bicyle will be included or not?
In your example, a bicycle may not be included if the law clearly omits it, based on the principle of "casus omissus." Courts often refrain from adding omitted cases unless there's a clear legislative intent to include them.
Do you have a specific law or statute in mind where this principle might apply?
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