A Level Law Practice Exam

What type of aid is an authorised dictionary of the year the statute was passed considered under?

1. Intrinsic aid

2. Extrinsic aid useful for literal rule

3. Binding precedent

4. Persuasive precedent

The correct answer is: Extrinsic aid useful for literal rule

An authorised dictionary from the year a statute was passed is classified as extrinsic aid because it provides external context to understand the statute. When interpreting legislation, particularly under the literal rule, courts rely on such dictionaries to ascertain the ordinary meaning of words used in the statute. This helps clarify any potential ambiguities in the language, ensuring that the statute is applied as intended by the legislature at the time it was enacted. The literal rule emphasizes interpreting words in their plain, ordinary meaning, and an authoritative dictionary serves as a key resource for this purpose. It allows judges to verify the contemporary significance of terms, making it an essential tool for legal interpretation. In contrast, intrinsic aids are elements found within the statute itself, such as its preamble or schedule, which can also aid in understanding but do not come from external sources. Binding and persuasive precedents pertain to previous court decisions and their authority within the legal system and are not relevant to the context of statutory interpretation or the use of dictionaries.