their effects are Effects X.1-X.n. Rule X.1 causes Effect X.1, Rule X.2 causes
Effect X.2 and so on. This can be set out in the following table:
Statute X
Effect X
Rule X.1
Effect X.1
Rule X.2
Effect X.2
Rule X.n
Effect X.n
Figure 11.2 Statutes, Rules and Effects
This table illustrates two equations. Statute X is composed of, and thus is
equal to, the sum of its rules. Hence Statute X = Rule RX.1 + Rule RX.2 … +
Rule RX.n. Since Statute X is the sum of its rules, in simple terms the effect of
Statute X, Effect X, is the sum of the effects of Rules X.1-X.n.
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Thus Effect
X = Effect RX.1 + Effect RX.2 + … Effect RX.n. However, the effects of
individual rule may interact with other rules. Thus the overall effect of Statute
X may be something more than the sum of the individual effects of the rules –
it is the sum of the effects of the rules in combination.
Common Law Rules
Options for making a common law rule are set out in the following table:
Rules
Effects
Rule 0
Effect 0
Rule 1
Effect 1
Rule 2
Effect 2
Rule n
Effect n
Figure 11.3 Rules and Effects
The left hand column sets out the range of Rules before a court. The right
hand column sets out the effect of each Rule. Rule 1 causes or produces
Effect 1, Rule 2 produces Effect 2 and so on. Rule 0 produces the null effect,
Effect 0. A court does nothing when it makes Rule 0, so nothing more
happens. Things stay as they are.
Meanings
Options for interpreting law can be set out in a table in the following way:
Meanings
Effects
Meaning 1
Effect 1
Meaning 2
Effect 2
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Reference here to the “sum of the effects” means the overall effect achieved
from the operation of each rule. Part of the overall effect of rules in a statute is
their joint effect so that the whole statute is likely to be greater than the sum of its
individual rules operating in isolation.
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