Jogkérdésmegközelítés

Jogkérdésmegközelítés is a term used in Hungarian legal theory to describe the systematic process by which legal questions are identified, framed, and analyzed. It refers to the methodological choices that govern how law is read, interpreted, and applied to concrete cases, as well as how normative conclusions are drawn.

The concept encompasses both theoretical reasoning and practical decision-making. Key elements include problem framing (defining the legal question and its scope), source selection (which statutes, case law, and doctrine apply), and interpretation strategies. Typical interpretive modalities include literal (szó szerinti) értelmezés, teleological (célszerű) értelmezés, történeti értelmezés and, in a system-wide context, rendszerelvű értelmezés. Comparative (összehasonlító) and functional approaches may also be employed to illuminate choices and harmonize norms across contexts.

Applications of jogkérdésmegközelítés occur in legal research, judicial decision-making, and education. In courts, the approach guides how statutory provisions are applied to facts, how precedents are weighed, and how competing rights or interests are balanced. In doctrine, it shapes scholarly argumentation and the evaluation of legal reforms.

Relation to related concepts: it is closely linked to jogértelmezés (interpretation of law), jogtudomány (legal science), and jogfilozófia (philosophy of law), forming part of broader debates about method, justification, and the role of policy considerations in legal reasoning.

Critically, different approaches can yield different outcomes; thus, transparency about methodological choices is emphasized in credible legal analysis.