Title: Application of the Open Document Format for legal normative documents in the National Assembly of Vietnam

Authors: Le Quang Huy; Vilas Wuwongse

Addresses: Department of Computer Science & Information Management, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand ' Department of Computer Science & Information Management, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand

Abstract: In this paper, we suggest a new application model of Open Document Format (ODF) for representing Legal Normative Documents (LNDs) in the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (NAV). The model includes the proposed ODF structure, a RELAX NG schema and an RDF/XML metadata for law documents. Structural validation with JING schema engine, metadata creation and management also play an important role in the model. The analytical metadata is established by defining legal components in each norm of LND. Execution of SPAQRL, XQuery queries over a set of metadata in the model can help users - such as drafters and legislators - reduce manual jobs while investigating many more LNDs with reduced time and effort. By efficiently looking for legal components in metadata, the model supports users in finding or overseeing related norms of LNDs in the pipeline of verification. Indirectly, the model supports increased efficiency in the enforcement of LNDs. Additionally, a Java and Jena-based prototype is also developed. This model offers many benefits and would significantly contribute to Vietnam's E-parliament and legal informatics.

Keywords: ODF; open document format; RDF; XML; SPARQL; legal metadata; Jena; Java; semantic; Vietnam; legal normative documents; law documents; metadata; legal documents; legal informatics; e-governance; electronic governance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEG.2012.049781

International Journal of Electronic Governance, 2012 Vol.5 No.2, pp.151 - 171

Received: 22 Oct 2011
Accepted: 21 Mar 2012
Published online: 15 Oct 2012 *

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