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Legal Rights
Chapter 15
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| common law | a system of law based on precedent 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 part filing a lawsuit |
| defendant | an individual or group being sued or charged with a crime |
| felony | a serious crime such a murderer, 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 win 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 for 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 fro an action that was not against the law when it was commited |
| search warrant | a court order allowing law enforcement officers to search a suspect's home of business and take specific items as evidence |
| double jeopardy | putting someone on trial for a crime 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 as a security deposit to ensure that an accused person returns fro his or her trial |
| due process of law | procedures established by law and guaranteed by the Constitution |