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Unit 5 Vocab
Unit 5 vocab for salem middle 8th grade civics
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Arrest | To seize or hold under the authority of the law. |
| Accused | someone who is charged with a crime in a court of law. |
| Appeal | to ask a higher court to review an earlier decision. |
| Appellate | the authority to hear an appeal of a decision by another court. |
| Arraignment | A hearing in which a suspect is charged with a crime and pleads guilt or not guilty. |
| Bail | Money paid to the court by an accused person to guarantee that he/she will appear for trial. |
| Circuit court | court of appeals in the federal court system. |
| Civil case | cases dealing with disputes between individuals -usually involving property or money. |
| Compensation | something received as an equivalent for debt, loss, injury, or suffering. |
| Criminal law | the group of laws that tell which acts are crimes, how the accused person should be tried in court, and how crimes should be punished. |
| Defendant | A person who is accused of a crime or who is being sued. |
| District court | the trial courts in the federal court system. |
| Due process | a process by which the government must treat accused persons fairly according to rules established by law. |
| Felony | Serious crime such as robbery or murder. |
| Indictment | A formal charge issued by a grand jury that names the suspect and states the charges against the suspect. |
| Judicial review | the Supreme Court’s power to overturn any law or executive action that it decides is in conflict with the Constitution. |
| Jurisdiction | the right or authority to hear a case. |
| Juvenile | a person under the age of 18. |
| Misdemeanor | A relatively minor crime such as shoplifting. |
| Plaintiff | Person or group that files a lawsuit in a civil case. |
| Plea | Statement by the accused saying whether they are guilty or not guilty. |
| Probable Cause | A reasonable belief that a crime has been committed. |
| Prosecution | A government body that brings a charge against the accused in criminal law. |
| Verdict | The decision of a judge or jury. |
| Warrant | A legal document issued by a court, giving police permission to make an arrest, seizure, or a search. |