Statutory Interpretation
Define statutory interpretation
the process by which judges give meaning to words or phrases in an Act of Parliament to apply them to a case at hand
Which of the four factors ensures consistency but can limit flexibility?
Doctrine of precedent
Define abrogation
Parliament passes a law that cancels a precedent or decision made by the courts
How many hearts do octopuses have?
3
What was the first product to be scanned with a barcode?
Chewing gum
Identify one reason why statutory interpretation is needed
Ambiguous wording, changes in language over time, punctuation or spelling mistakes etc.
The idea that courts should show restraint or caution when making decisions and rulings that could lead to significant change in the law
Provide one reason why parliament may abrogate a law
Courts have interpreted the statute incorrectly
What is the capital city of Namibia?
Windhoek
Name one of the two countries to have a map of itself on the national flag
Kosovo or Cyprus
What is one effect/impact of statutory intepretation?
meaning of legislation can be expanded/narrowed, precedent may be set for future cases to follow, words/phrases are given meaning, court's decision is binding on the parties
Define judicial activism
The willingness of judges to consider a range of social and political factors when interpreting law and making decisions.
i.e. more open to make significant changes to the law
Define codification
When parliament passes an Act that assembles or pulls together on a particular topic into one all-encompassing bill. This reinforces or endorses principles established in court rulings
What year were the movies The Shawshank Redemption, Forrest Gump and Pulp Fiction released?
1994
Which African country has a capital city named after a US president?
Liberia - Monrovia (James Monroe)
How can the requirement for standing NEGATIVELY impact the courts' ability to make law?
Courts can only make law when someone with standing brings a relevant case before them
obiter dicta
create public outrage through a decision
Which card got reworked in Clash Royale?
Furnace
The Kingdom of Bhutan measures national progress through which unusual metric?
Gross national happiness
What is the actual name of the Studded Belt Case?
Deing v Tarola
How can costs and time positively impact the courts' ability to make law?
Discourage frivolous or trivial cases, allowing to courts to make law quicker as the backlog is reduced
Provide an example of codification - what was the name of the case and the Act?
Mabo case (1992) and Native Title Act (Cth) 1993
Which well known African animal does not have a voicebox?
Giraffe
What is arachibutyrophobia?
The fear of getting peanut butter stuck on the roof of your mouth