How to Interpret a Statute Consistent With Its Purpose

The public can research a statute's purpose in the same way a legal professional can.

Each statute has a distinct purpose. When a statute is vague or ambiguous, it is the judiciary's role to interpret it pursuant to its legislative purpose. Legal professionals and, ultimately, the courts, aim to produce statutory interpretation consistent with legislative intent. However, a person does not need to be a legal expert to research the purpose of a statute. The same tools used by attorneys, legal researchers and the courts are readily accessible to the public.

Instructions

Analyze the Plain Meaning

1. 

   The actual words of a statute are the beginning point for determining its purpose.

   Read the language strictly. Do not go beyond the precise words of the statute. Apply the statutory wording exactly as it appears to a specific set of circumstances. For example, if a statute states, "A person shall not run a red light," it leaves no room for interpretation. However, if a statute states, "A person may not run a red light except in an emergency," someone must determine what qualifies as an emergency. Look for expressed exceptions or subsections within the statute to clarify ambiguities.

2. 

   Congressional libraries house legislative histories.

   Access a statute's historical information through legislative archives. Read the bill that was the basis of the statute. Study the transcripts of the debates, committee reports and press releases relating to the bill's development. Read the rewrites of the bill that led to the statute's enactment. Contact the legislator who sponsored the bill and ask specific questions regarding the statute's intended purpose.

3. 

   Online legal data bases make case law research convenient.

   Visit a law library or online legal database. Read interpretative case law. Research whether a court interpreted the statute through a case ruling. Search at the highest appellate level first. Search at the intermediary appellate level if no supreme court ruling exists. Search at the lower court levels last. Lower court rulings are not binding, but can be persuasive, on statutory interpretation.

4. 

   Consult a lawyer about statutory interpretation impacting particular rights.

   Seek legal advice. Rely on an attorney if you are trying to determine specific, personal rights relating to statutory interpretation. Depend on a lawyer to decide if statutes are being violated or if court action needs to be initiated.

References

• Cornell University Law School: Statutory Construction

Resources

• Georgetown Law Library: Legislative History Research Tutorial