What does plain meaning mean in law?
: a rule in statute or contract interpretation: when the language is unambiguous and clear on its face the meaning of the statute or contract must be determined from the language of the statute or contract and not from extrinsic evidence.
What does plain text mean in court?
A frequent maxim of statutory interpretation is the so-called “plain meaning” rule — that judges should consider legislative history, statutory purpose, the statute’s title and whatever else, if and only if the text’s meaning is unclear. When the text is clear or plain, by contrast, you begin and end with the text.
What is statutory interpretation?
The process by which a judge decides what the words in a statute mean, in order to apply them to the facts in the case at hand and reach a decision.
What is a plain reading?
A text has a plain meaning if a competent reader would judge, on the basis of reading alone, that her first impression meaning is the only meaning the text can plausibly bear. A text is ambiguous if a competent reader could plausibly read it in more than one way.
What is plain and ordinary meaning?
According to the plain meaning rule, absent a contrary definition within the statute, words must be given their plain, ordinary and literal meaning. If the words are clear, they must be applied, even though the intention of the legislator may have been different or the result is harsh or undesirable.
What is the plain statement rule?
In American law, the clear statement rule is a guideline for statutory construction, instructing courts to not interpret a statute in a way that will have particular consequences unless the statute makes unmistakably clear its intent to achieve that result.
What is plaintext in network security?
Plaintext is what encryption algorithms, or ciphers, transform an encrypted message into. It is any readable data — including binary files — in a form that can be seen or utilized without the need for a decryption key or decryption device. Plaintext is the input to a crypto system, with ciphertext being the output.
Why is statutory interpretation used?
Courts may be called upon to interpret a statute due to disputes over the meaning of a word or phrase contained within a statute. These disputes may arise through a variety of reasons. It has long been held that words are an imperfect means of communication.
How do you do statutory interpretation?
The basic principles governing statutory interpretation are repeatedly stated, without apparent disagreement, in decisions of the High Court of Australia. According to the author, they involve deriving meaning from close consideration of the text, context and purpose (policy) of any contested provisions.
What is the plain meaning rule in business?
The plain meaning rule is an approach to legal proceedings that relies on the usual and ordinary meaning of a law’s text. This rule is the starting point for courts and legal experts attempting to determine legislative intent.
What is the similar meaning of the word plain?
simple, ordinary, unadorned, undecorated, unembellished, unornamented, unpretentious, unostentatious, unfussy, homely, homespun, basic, modest, unsophisticated, penny plain, without frills. stark, severe, spartan, austere, chaste, bare, uncluttered, restrained, muted, unpatterned, patternless, everyday, workaday.