Legal Dictionary of Pakistan
Quick lookup for English, Urdu, and Latin legal terms used in Pakistani jurisprudence.
Canon of construction
See canon (1)
canon of construction
A rule used in construing legal instruments, esp. contracts and statutes. * Although a few states have codified the canons of construction - examples of which are contra proferentem and ejusdern generis - most jurisdictions treat the canons as mere customs not having the force of law. - Often shortened to canon. - Also termed rule of construction; rule of interpretation."A frequent criticism of the canons [of construction], made forcefully by Professor Llewellyn many years ago, is that for every canon one might bring to bear on a point there is an equal and opposite canon. This is an exaggeration; but what is true is that there is a canon to support every possible result." Richard A. Posner, The Federal Courts: Crisis and Reform 276 (1985).