Statutory construction

Statutory construction focuses specifically on enacted legislation: how statutes and regulations should be read when their meaning is uncertain or their application contested. In Switzerland, interpretation normally considers the official-language wording, structure of the act, legislative materials, purpose, constitutional principles and compatibility with international obligations. Because Swiss federal laws exist in several authentic languages, comparison of language versions may be important. Construction is not free policy-making; it remains anchored in the enacted norm while allowing courts and authorities to resolve ambiguity, gaps and changes in social or technical context.