Texas Statutes
§ 311.016 — "MAY," "SHALL," "MUST," ETC.
Texas·Code GV Government Code
Sec. 311.016. "MAY," "SHALL," "MUST," ETC. The following constructions apply unless the context in which the word or phrase appears necessarily requires a different construction or unless a different construction is expressly provided by statute:
(1)"May" creates discretionary authority or grants permission or a power.
(2)"Shall" imposes a duty.
(3)"Must" creates or recognizes a condition precedent.
(4)"Is entitled to" creates or recognizes a right.
(5)"May not" imposes a prohibition and is synonymous with "shall not."
(6)"Is not entitled to" negates a right.
(7)"Is not required to" negates a duty or condition precedent.
SUBCHAPTER C. CONSTRUCTION OF STATUTES
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Legislative History
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 220, Sec. 1, eff. May 23, 1997.
Nearby Sections
15
§ 311.001
SHORT TITLE.§ 311.002
APPLICATION.§ 311.003
RULES NOT EXCLUSIVE.§ 311.004
CITATION OF CODES.§ 311.005
GENERAL DEFINITIONS.§ 311.006
INTERNAL REFERENCES.§ 311.011
COMMON AND TECHNICAL USAGE OF WORDS.§ 311.012
TENSE, NUMBER, AND GENDER.§ 311.013
AUTHORITY AND QUORUM OF PUBLIC BODY.§ 311.014
COMPUTATION OF TIME.§ 311.015
REFERENCE TO A SERIES.§ 311.016
"MAY," "SHALL," "MUST," ETC.§ 311.021
INTENTION IN ENACTMENT OF STATUTES.§ 311.022
PROSPECTIVE OPERATION OF STATUTES.§ 311.023
STATUTE CONSTRUCTION AIDS.