Law I / The Principle of Legality
Practice question · Fill in the blanks

Complete the requirements of the criminal statute.

That the statute must exist before the conduct is the requirement of lex ______. That it must be written, and of statutory rank, is lex scripta. That it may not be extended by analogy against the accused is lex ______. That it must describe the conduct precisely enough to guide a citizen is lex ______. Non bis in idem requires an identity of subject, of facts, and of ______.

Word bank: praevia · stricta · certa · foundation · scripta · posterior

Hints
  1. The first blank is the one that non-retroactivity protects.
  2. The last blank is the element that decides whether a criminal penalty and an administrative sanction can stand together.
Show the answer

That the statute must exist before the conduct is the requirement of lex praevia. That it must be written, and of statutory rank, is lex scripta. That it may not be extended by analogy against the accused is lex stricta. That it must describe the conduct precisely enough to guide a citizen is lex certa. Non bis in idem requires an identity of subject, of facts, and of foundation.

Why

The last blank is where the real litigation happens. Identity of subject and of facts is usually obvious; identity of foundation asks whether the two sanctions protect the same interest, and answering it decides whether an administrative fine and a criminal penalty for one episode may both stand.

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