ABSTRACT

CALPP: Computer Aided Legal Procedures and Proceedings

K. Ramanraj <ramanraj@vsnl.com>

Version 1.0 15-8-2001

Legal   procedures   are   man    made   rules  and are executed   as   legal
proceedings.  CALPP  provides a  mechanism  for  computer aided  legal
procedures and proceedings.

This abstract gives an outline of how Calpp works.

ASSUMPTIONS:

Let us assume, that we can list the rules that define a complete legal procedure in a legal system, as follows:

rule[0]='Procedure for registration of births and deaths'
rule[1]='Procedure to regulate companies and associations'
rule[2]='Procedure for regulation of chit funds'
rule[3]='Procedure for regulation of electronic commerce'
...
...
rule[n]='Procedure for regulation of object x'

 A new  rule is added  to the list  as rule[n+1].  These  rules always
emanate from a  well defined source, and may be  self contained or may
work by borrowing from other  rules.   The collection of all the rules
define the legal system of an organisation, entity, or country.

Let us further assume that  each rule, defines a main logical sequence
of steps. For example, rule[0] may have the following steps:

step[1][register_birth]='Registration of Birth'
step[2][register_name]='Registration of Name'
step[3][register_death]='Registration of Death'

Some optional steps could be invoked any stage, like for instance:
step[4][correct_register]='Correction or cancellation of births, names and deaths'
step[4][search_register]='Search of births and deaths register'
step[4][inspect_registers]='Inspection of Registrations'

Some prliminary steps also exist:
step[0][create_registers]='Create Registers and Registrars'

Each  step  involves  the  collection of  particulars.  For  instance,
step[1]      may      require      the     following      particulars:
particular[child][Date_of_Birth]                 
particular[child][Sex]
particular[child][Name]               
particular[child][Place_of_Birth]
particular[father][Name]                
particular[father][Nationality]
particular[mother][Name]                
particular[mother][Nationality]
particular[maternity_Care][Name]            
particular[informant][Name]
particular[informant][Date_of_Information]

The   headings  in  the   above  step   are  child,   father,  mother,
maternity_care, and  informant. Each heading collects  relevant key or
particular_code, for  example, the particular_codes  under the heading
child are date_of_birth, sex, name and place_of_birth.

The  particulars  table  stores  the  numerical  minimum  and  maximum
headings, along with the minimum and maximum keys. Further the heading
or key  may be compulsorily  required or merely optional.  The minimum
and  maximum values  given for  headings and  keys are  interpreted as
follows:

--------+---------+---------+----------------------------------------------------------
          Minimum   Maximum    Effect
--------+---------+---------+----------------------------------------------------------
heading     1          1       Only one heading is allowed
heading     1          2       Minimum 1, and a maximum of 2
heading     3          5       Minumum 3, and a maximum of 5
heading     3          0       Minumum 3, with no limit on maximum
heading     1          0       Infinite instances of heading is allowed
heading     0          0       Infinite and unlimited, but is of little use
--------+---------+---------+----------------------------------------------------------
within each heading, the key values are also evaluated similarly:

--------+---------+---------+----------------------------------------------------------
          Minimum Maximum Effect key 1 1 Only one key is allowed key 1
2 Minimum 1, and a maximum of 2  key 3 5 Minumum 3, and a maximum of 5
key 3 0 Minumum 3, with no limit on maximum key 1 0 Infinite instances
of                   key                   is                  allowed
--------+---------+---------+----------------------------------------------------------
Thus, it  is possible  to store any  amount of data  under appropriate
headings and keys in the particulars table.

Examples:

In the example, 
------------+-------+------------+------------+-----------------+-------+-------+
             heading  min_heading max_heading    key             min_key max_key
------------+-------+------------+------------+-----------------+-------+-------+
particular   [child]       1              1      [Date_of_Birth]    1       1
                                                 [Sex]              1       1
------------+-------+------------+------------+-----------------+-------+-------+

These steps may change with  time to include additions, deletions, and
modifications, by the operation  of new rules.  Advancement in science
may induce  collection of  more particulars, and  then details  of all
mothers involved  in the  birth process could  be recorded  as follows
------------+-------+------------+------------+-----------------+-------+-------+
             heading  min_heading max_heading    key             min_key max_key
------------+-------+------------+------------+-----------------+-------+-------+
particular  [mother]   1             0           [Name]           1         1
                                                 [Nationality]    1         1
                                                 [Contribution]   1  1
------------+-------+------------+------------+-----------------+-------+-------+
Where the  contribution field could store values  like natural mother,
donor of  egg, surrogate,  guardian, or such  other terms  science may
assign.  Unlimited mother headings have been provided, to covers cases
where, genes  from several eggs are  spliced and put  together by some
future medical procedure.



All details about procedures are stored in three tables:
    procedures 
    steps 
    particulars

All  details of  the  proceedings are  stored  in three  corresponding
tables:
    proceedings
    events
    details



A legal procedure is normally defined as a sequence of steps.

    At each step, particulars are required and processed.

	    The particulars are often variable.

Anatomy of a Legal Proceedings:

A legal  proceeding commences by executing  the first step  in a legal
procedure.

	Events record a completed step.

	    Each event generates assertions or facts.

Thus, procedures are proceedings are co-related and linked intimately.

Defining a Procedure:

Three things are required to define a procedure:
	* A unique name for the procedure
	* The sequence of steps that make the procedure
        * The particulars required to be furnished at each step
	
Three things are required to conduct a proceeding:
	* A unique name for the proceeding
	* A record of the steps completed as events
	* A record of particulars furnished at each step as assertions
or facts


	






