Define ratio decidendi.

The ratio decidendi is the legal reason for the decision: the rule of law applied to the material facts, on which the outcome of the case depends.

Obiter dicta are things said by the way: statements of law in a judgment that were not necessary for reaching the decision.

Why can it be difficult to identify the ratio of a case?

A judgment is continuous prose that nowhere labels the binding rule, and in an appellate court several judges may reach the same result by different routes.

What is a material fact?

A material fact is one the court treated as essential to its conclusion, so that if it were different the outcome would change.

What is the authority of an appellate decision in which no single line of reasoning commands a majority?

The case may have no ascertainable ratio and is then of limited value as authority, although the order made still binds the parties to it.

WJEC A-Level Law 603-1978-1

Law Making in Wales and the UK

Topic overview Legal rules, sources of law and the rule of law Parliamentary sovereignty, the separation of powers and the Royal Prerogative The composition and role of Parliament The legislative process at Westminster The Senedd and law making in Wales The devolution settlement and the role of the Supreme Court Influences on law making and law reform

Delegated Legislation

Topic overview The nature and authority of delegated legislation Statutory instruments By-laws and Orders in Council Delegated legislation in Wales and the devolution settlement Parliamentary controls on delegated legislation Control by the courts and judicial review Reasons for delegated legislation and its advantages and disadvantages

Statutory Interpretation

Topic overview The need for statutory interpretation The literal rule The golden rule The mischief rule The purposive approach and European influence Rules of language, presumptions and intrinsic aids Extrinsic aids, the Human Rights Act 1998 and evaluating the approaches

Judicial Precedent

Topic overview The doctrine of precedent and stare decisis Ratio decidendi and obiter dicta Binding and persuasive precedent The hierarchy of the courts in England and Wales The Supreme Court and the Practice Statement Overruling, reversing and distinguishing Advantages and disadvantages of precedent

The Civil Courts and Dispute Resolution

Topic overview Civil liability, civil claims and the civil process The structure and jurisdiction of the civil courts Appeals in civil cases Juries in civil cases Tribunals Arbitration Mediation, conciliation and negotiation

The Criminal Process and the Criminal Courts

Topic overview Classification of offences and the criminal process The magistrates' courts and the Crown Court Appeals in criminal cases The jury at trial: verdicts, secrecy and the coroner's jury Criticisms of and alternatives to the jury system The aims and theories of sentencing Sentencing powers and the sentencing of youths

Legal Personnel and the Judiciary

Topic overview Barristers: training, role and rights of audience Solicitors: training, role and work Legal executives and paralegals Regulation of the legal professions and the fusion debate The judiciary: hierarchy, role and selection Judicial independence, the rule of law and the constitutional position Lay magistrates and district judges

Access to Justice and Funding

Topic overview Access to justice and the development of legal aid Civil legal aid: scope and services Means testing, merits testing and the statutory charge Criminal legal aid and the Public Defender Service Conditional fee agreements and private funding Advice agencies and other sources of help Evaluating access to justice after the 2012 reforms

Tort: Rules and Theory

Topic overview The nature and origins of the law of tort Categories of tort and the interests protected Fault and strict liability Corrective justice and the economic justification Retributive and distributive justice in tort Theories of justice and the balancing of interests Criticisms of the tort system Reform and alternatives to tort

Tort: Negligence

Topic overview Duty of care and the neighbour principle The Caparo test and the modern approach Breach of duty and the reasonable man Factors affecting the standard of care Causation in fact and in law Remoteness of damage and the thin skull rule Psychiatric injury: primary and secondary victims

Tort: Occupiers' Liability

Topic overview Occupiers, premises and visitors The common duty of care under the 1957 Act Child visitors Skilled visitors, contractors and warnings Liability to trespassers under the 1984 Act Comparing the two Acts Evaluating occupiers' liability

Tort: Remedies

Topic overview The purpose of damages in tort Special and general damages Mitigation and contributory negligence The form of a damages award Injunctions Other remedies and the limitation of actions Evaluating remedies in tort

Human Rights: Rules and TheoryHuman rights

Topic overview The meaning of rights and the distinction between rights and liberties The European Convention on Human Rights: origins, scope and machinery Absolute, limited and qualified rights The Human Rights Act 1998 and its key sections Human rights in the devolution settlements of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland Parliament, the courts and the entrenchment debate Criticisms of human rights, law and morality and law and justice

Human Rights: Key Convention ProvisionsHuman rights

Topic overview Article 8 and the scope of private and family life, home and correspondence Negative and positive obligations under Article 8 Article 8(2) and the justification of an interference Article 10 and the right to freedom of expression Article 11 and freedom of peaceful assembly and association Balancing Article 8 against Article 10 Evaluating the qualified rights and their exceptions

Human Rights: RestrictionsHuman rights

Topic overview Public order offences and the control of protest Police powers of stop, search and entry Arrest, detention and the rights of a person in police custody Trespass, harassment and actions against the police Interception of communications and access to personal information Confidentiality, defamation and the protection of reputation Obscenity and the arguments for and against restriction

Human Rights: EnforcementHuman rights

Topic overview The domestic courts and the Strasbourg case law Compatible interpretation and declarations of incompatibility Public authorities, victims and remedies under sections 6 to 8 The judicial review procedure The grounds for judicial review The European Court of Human Rights Evaluating the enforcement of human rights

Human Rights: Protection and ReformHuman rights

Topic overview How rights are protected in the United Kingdom today The Equality and Human Rights Commission Criticisms of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the case for change Defending the Human Rights Act 1998 as it stands The case for a United Kingdom Bill of Rights The case against a United Kingdom Bill of Rights Reform, devolution and the United Kingdom's place in the Convention system

Contract: Rules and TheoryContract

Topic overview Origins, definition and function of contract law Freedom of contract and the classical theory of bargain Contract law and economic development Freedom of contract and consumer protection Judicial decisions, legislation and European influence on contract Human rights, morality and justice in the law of contract Arguments for a European or global law of contract

Contract: FormationContract

Topic overview Offer and invitation to treat Acceptance, counter-offers and the ending of an offer Consideration and existing duties Payment of less than the debt, and promissory estoppel Intention to create legal relations Privity of contract and the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 Evaluating the rules of agreement and consideration

Contract: TermsContract

Topic overview Representations and terms Express terms, incorporation and the parol evidence rule Implied terms Conditions, warranties and innominate terms Exclusion clauses and their construction Statutory control of exclusion and unfair terms Evaluating the law on contract terms

Contract: Misrepresentation and DuressContract

Topic overview Actionable misrepresentation and the elements of a claim Fraudulent misrepresentation Negligent misrepresentation and the Misrepresentation Act 1967 Innocent misrepresentation, rescission and its bars Economic duress Duress to the person and undue influence distinguished Evaluating misrepresentation and duress

Contract: DischargeContract

Topic overview Discharge by performance and the entire obligations rule Exceptions to the entire obligations rule and standards of performance Discharge by agreement Discharge by breach, actual and anticipatory Frustration and when a contract is frustrated The effects of frustration and the Law Reform (Frustrated Contracts) Act 1943 Evaluating the rules on discharge

Contract: RemediesContract

Topic overview The aim of damages and the measure of loss Causation and remoteness of damage Mitigation, agreed damages and penalties Rescission and rectification Specific performance Injunctions and the limits of equitable relief Evaluating the law of contractual remedies

Criminal Law: Rules and TheoryCriminal

Topic overview The definition of crime and the purposes of criminal law Burden and standard of proof The Crown Prosecution Service, the Attorney General and the DPP Bail and remand in custody The trial process, youth justice and appeals Law and morality, law and justice in the criminal law Codification and the case for reforming criminal law

Criminal Law: General Elements of LiabilityCriminal

Topic overview Actus reus and the requirement of a voluntary act Liability for omissions Mens rea: intention Mens rea: recklessness and negligence Factual and legal causation Strict liability Evaluating fault, strict liability and the general principles

Criminal Law: Offences Against the PersonCriminal

Topic overview Murder: actus reus and mens rea Voluntary manslaughter: loss of control Voluntary manslaughter: diminished responsibility Involuntary manslaughter: unlawful act and gross negligence Assault and battery Actual bodily harm, wounding and grievous bodily harm Evaluating the law on homicide and non-fatal offences

Criminal Law: Property OffencesCriminal

Topic overview Theft: appropriation and property Theft: belonging to another Theft: dishonesty and intention permanently to deprive Robbery under section 8 of the Theft Act 1968 Burglary: entry, trespass and buildings Burglary under sections 9(1)(a) and 9(1)(b), and aggravated burglary Evaluating the law on theft, robbery and burglary

Criminal Law: DefencesCriminal

Topic overview Insanity and the M'Naghten Rules Automatism: insane and non-insane Intoxication by alcohol and by drugs Self-defence and the prevention of crime Duress by threats Duress of circumstances and necessity Evaluating the capacity and necessity defences

Criminal Law: Preliminary OffencesCriminal

Topic overview Attempt: the statutory definition and its scope The actus reus: acts more than merely preparatory Applying the more than merely preparatory test to the cases The mens rea of attempt Attempting the impossible Attempt, the completed offence and abandonment Evaluating the law on attempts and proposals for reform

Judicial Precedent

Ratio decidendi and obiter dicta

3 things to know
AS Unit 1

Overview

Ratio decidendi, obiter dicta and material fact.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Numbers

What weight does a dissenting judgment carry?

Key term

Define obiter dicta.

Key term

Which part of a judgment is binding on a later court?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
Define ratio decidendi.
Model answer
The ratio decidendi is the legal reason for the decision: the rule of law applied to the material facts, on which the outcome of the case depends.
2
Define obiter dicta.
Model answer
Obiter dicta are things said by the way: statements of law in a judgment that were not necessary for reaching the decision.
3
Which part of a judgment is binding on a later court?
Model answer
Only the ratio decidendi binds a later court; obiter dicta are persuasive and may be adopted or rejected.
4
Why can it be difficult to identify the ratio of a case?
Model answer
A judgment is continuous prose that nowhere labels the binding rule, and in an appellate court several judges may reach the same result by different routes.
5
What is a material fact?
Model answer
A material fact is one the court treated as essential to its conclusion, so that if it were different the outcome would change.
6
What is the authority of an appellate decision in which no single line of reasoning commands a majority?
Model answer
The case may have no ascertainable ratio and is then of limited value as authority, although the order made still binds the parties to it.

See the rest and revise

Other ways to work this

The same content, four other ways.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

1Closed book

2Open book

3Closed book

The 3-step method, run for you

Answer cold, learn it, then prove it stuck. Levo tracks the jump between your first attempt and your last.

Law Making in Wales and the UK

Delegated Legislation

Statutory Interpretation

Judicial Precedent

Cram a whole paper in one sitting

Sort every topic into what you know and what you do not, then drill only the weak ones.

Roles v Nathan ( ).

196319411945

Blank Blitz makes facts automatic

Rapid timed gap-fills on the terms and numbers you need to recall without thinking.

AThe defendant owed the victim a duty of care and breached it.

BThe breach carried a reasonably foreseeable risk of death.

CThe breach caused the death.

Build It gets the exam shape right

Assemble a full-mark answer from its marking points, in the order an examiner wants them.

Pecuniary loss is financial and measurable.

TrueFalse

Test It catches misconceptions

Spot the fault in a statement. The traps are the mistakes students actually make.

721941163128510

Brain Breaks between sessions

Short focus games to reset attention, so the next set lands better than the last.

Every question in Judicial Precedent, on a schedule.

Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.

Start revising, £5 a month See how the method works

Or £46 a year, about £3.83 a month. Cancel anytime.