Legal Dictionary of Pakistan

Quick lookup for English, Urdu, and Latin legal terms used in Pakistani jurisprudence.

Vagueness

1. Uncertain breadth of meaning <the phrase "within a reasonable time" is plagued by vagueness - what is reasonable>. ( Though common in writings generally, vagueness raises due-process concerns if legislation does not provide fair notice of what is required or prohibited, so that enforcement might well become arbitrary. 2. Loosely, ambiguity. See AMBIGUITY.

vagueness doctrine

Constitutional law. The doctrine - based on the Due Process Clause -requiring that a criminal statute state explicitly and definitely what acts are prohibited, so as to provide fair warning and preclude arbitrary enforcement. - Also termed void-for-vagueness doctrine. Cf. OVERBREADTH DOCTRINE.

void for vagueness

See VOID.

void-for-vagueness doctrine

See VAGUENES; DOCTRINE; void for vagueness under VOID.