Interpretative Canonons

Whole-Text Canon. The text must be construed as a whole.

Presumption of Consistent Usage - A word or phrase is presumed to bear the same meaning throughout a text; a material variation in terms suggests a variation in meaning.

Ordinary-Meaning Canon - Words are to be understood in their ordinary, everyday meanings—unless the context indicates that they bear a technical sense.

Fixed-Meaning Canon - Words must be given the meaning they had when the text was adopted.

Negative-Implication Canon - The expression of one thing implies the exclusion of others (expressio unius est exclusio alterius).

General/Specific Canon - If there is a conflict between a general provision and a specific provision, the specific provision prevails (generalia specialibus non derogant).

Mandatory/Permissive Canon - Mandatory words impose a duty; permissive words grant discretion.

Conjunctive/Disjunctive Canon - And joins a conjunctive list, or a disjunctive list—but with negatives, plurals, and various specific wordings there are nuances.

Subordinating/Superordinating Canon - Subordinating language (signaled by subject to) or superordinating language (signaled by notwithstanding or despite) merely shows which provision prevails in the event of a clash—but does not necessarily denote a clash of provisions.

Presumption of Nonexclusive “Include” - The verb “to include” introduces examples, not an exhaustive list.

Grammar Canon - Words are to be given the meaning that proper grammar and usage would assign them.