{"data":{"id":"us-mn/minn.-stat.-645.08","jurisdiction":"us-mn","citation":"Minn. Stat. § 645.08","heading":"CANONS OF CONSTRUCTION.","body":"In construing the statutes of this state, the following canons of interpretation are to govern, unless their observance would involve a construction inconsistent with the manifest intent of the legislature, or repugnant to the context of the statute:\n(1) words and phrases are construed according to rules of grammar and according to their common and approved usage; but technical words and phrases and such others as have acquired a special meaning, or are defined in this chapter, are construed according to such special meaning or their definition;\n(2) the singular includes the plural; and the plural, the singular; words of one gender include the other genders; words used in the past or present tense include the future;\n(3) general words are construed to be restricted in their meaning by preceding particular words;\n(4) words in a law conferring a joint authority upon three or more public officers or other persons are construed to confer authority upon a majority of such officers or persons; and\n(5) a majority of the qualified members of any board or commission constitutes a quorum.","path":["STATUTES, CONSTRUCTION","CHAPTER 645. INTERPRETATION OF STATUTES AND RULES","CONSTRUCTION OF WORDS AND PHRASES"],"source_url":"https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/645.08","current_through":"2025 Minnesota Statutes","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-02T22:10:51Z","sha256":"e392db2c86a735670ccc569ec081e10bf0dc04610d549d22ea6b95c4af40a4a9","source_id":"us-mn","stale":false,"prev":"us-mn/minn.-stat.-645.071","next":"us-mn/minn.-stat.-645.09"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}