Luettelemallasääntö

Luettelemallasääntö, which translates to "listing rule" or "enumeration rule" in English, is a legal principle primarily found in Finnish law. It pertains to the interpretation of statutes, particularly when a law contains an explicit list of items or situations to which it applies. The core of the Luettelemallasääntö is that if a statute enumerates specific examples, the scope of that statute is generally understood to be limited to those examples, and not extended to other, unlisted, similar situations.

This rule serves as a tool for legal certainty and predictability. By clearly defining the application of a law through an explicit list, it aims to prevent overly broad interpretations by courts or administrative bodies. If the legislature intended a wider scope, it is expected to either use more general language or include additional items in the list. The principle encourages legislative precision and discourages judicial activism in expanding the reach of statutes beyond their enumerated provisions.

However, the application of Luettelemallasääntö is not always absolute. Context and legislative intent play crucial roles. Sometimes, the listed items may be illustrative rather than exhaustive, meaning they are examples intended to clarify a broader principle rather than define its entire scope. In such cases, courts may consider other factors to determine the true intent behind the legislation. Nevertheless, as a general guideline, the Luettelemallasääntö leans towards a restrictive interpretation of laws that rely on enumerated lists.