Question | Answer |
common law | a system of law based on precedent and costom |
precedent | a ruling that is used as the basis for a judicial decision in a later, similar case |
statute | a law written by the legislative branch |
plaintiff | a person or party filling 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 relively minor offence such as vandilism or stealing inexpensive item |
larceny | the unlawful taking away of another perons property witht he intent never to return it |
robbery | the taking of property from a persons posession by using force or threats |
burglary | unlawful entry into any dwelling or structure |
lawsuit | legal action in which a person or group sues to collect damage for some harm that has been done |
tort | wrongful acts for which an injured party has the right to sue |
libel | written untruths that are harmful to somones reputation |
constitutional law | branch of law dealing with fromation, construction, and interpretation |
stare decisis | the practice of using earlier judicial ruling 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 of a crime without a trail or fair hearing in court |
ex post facto law | a law that would allow a person to be punished for an action that was not agianst the law when it was continued |
due process of law | procedures established by law and garunteed in the constitution |
search warrant | a court allowing law enforcement officers to search a suspects home or business and take specific items or evidence |
double jeopardy | putting somone on trail for a crime which he or she was previously acquitted for |
grand jury | a group of citizens that decide whetjer there is sufficient evidence to accuse somone of a crime |
plea bargaining | negotiation between the defence attorney and the prosecutor |
bail | a sum of money used as as a security deposit to ensure that an accused person returns for his or her trail |