A Glossary of Constitutional Terms: English / Nepali

a phrase in Latin about being overcautious: 'ex abundanti cautela'or 'out of an abundance of caution'—used when a court feels theneed to say that a word or phrase adds nothing (which goes againsta basic principle of statutory interpretation that meaning must begiven to each word or phrase).But one should not assume too easily that the seeming verbosity inlegal texts is the result of drafters being too cautious. Look at this(also from the Constitution of Papua New Guinea): 'the privileges,powers, functions, duties and responsibilities of the Head ofState may be had, exercised and performed through a Governor-General.' If one analyzes the import carried by the apparentlysynonymous words used here—privilege, power, function, dutyand responsibility—one will realize that these words have differentshades of meaning; Lynch was acting out of caution, not out of anexcess of caution.ArchaismLegal language can also seem odd to many readers because draftersreuse old words. Archaic words live on in statutes. There are allsorts of old-fashioned turns of phrase that survive in law, and inlaws, that one will not find anywhere else:the said Council;pursuant to an order;gross misconduct;as soon as may be;effluxion of time, etc.VA Glossary of Constitutional Terms