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Ch. 15
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Common Law | A system of law based on precedence and customs. |
| Precedent | A ruling that is used as the basis for a judicial decision in a later, similar case. |
| Statute | A law written by a legislative branch. |
| Plaintiff | A person or party filing a lawsuit. |
| Defendant | An individual or group being sued or charged with a crime. |
| Felony | A serious crime such as murder, rape, kidnapping, or robbery. |
| Misdemeanor | A relatively minor offense such as vandalism or stealing inexpensive items. |
| Larceny | The unlawful taking away of another person's property with the intent never to return it. |
| Robbery | The taking of property from a person's possession by using force or threats. |
| Burglary | Unlawful entry into any dwelling or structure. |
| Lawsuit | A legal action in which a person or group sues to collect damages for some harm that is done. |
| Tort | Wrongful acts for which an injured party has the right to sue. |
| Libel | Written untruths that are harmful to someone's reputation. |
| Constitutional Law | Branch of law dealing with formation, construction, and interpretation of constitutions. |
| Stare Decisis | The practice of using earlier judicial rulings as a basis fro deciding cases. |
| Writ of Habeas Corpus | A court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why they are holding the person. |
| Bill of Attainder | A law that punishes a person accused of a crime without a trial or a fair hearing in court. |
| Ex Post Facto Law | A law that would allow a person to be punished for an actin that was not against the law when it was committed. |
| Search Warrant | A court order allowing law enforcement officers to search a suspect's home or business and take specific items as evidence. |
| Double Jeopardy | Putting someone on trial for a crime of which he or she was previously acquitted. |
| Grand Jury | A group of citizens that decides whether there is sufficient evidence to accuse someone of a crime. |
| Plea Bargaining | Negotiation between the defense attorney and the prosecutor. |
| Bail | A sum of money used as a security deposit to ensure that an accused person returns for his or her trail. |
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briannahartsell
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