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Which interpretation method is favored for providing clear legislative intent?

  1. Literal rule

  2. Golden rule

  3. Purposive approach

  4. Mischief rule

The correct answer is: Purposive approach

The purposive approach is favored for providing clear legislative intent because it seeks to understand the purpose behind a law rather than just its literal meaning. This method considers the broader objectives that the legislature aimed to achieve when enacting the statute. By focusing on the intention of the lawmakers, the purposive approach helps to ensure that the law is applied in a manner that aligns with the underlying goals, thereby promoting justice and effective governance. In contrast, the literal rule concentrates solely on the plain meaning of the words in the statute, which can sometimes lead to outcomes that may not reflect the intended purpose of the legislation. The golden rule allows for modifications to a literal interpretation to prevent absurd results but still does not explicitly prioritize legislative intent. The mischief rule focuses on identifying the mischief that the law was intended to address, but it operates within a narrower scope compared to the broader, purpose-driven analysis of the purposive approach. Overall, the purposive approach ensures that the law is applied in accordance with its intended effects, making it the preferred method for ascertaining legislative intent.