A | B |
Supremacy Clause | Makes the Constitution the country's highest law |
Agency | The IRS is an example of this federal entity |
Separation of Powers | Division of power among the three branches of a gov't |
Statutes | Another name for laws |
Civil action | Another name for a private lawsuit |
Law | The set of rules governing behavior |
Human rights | All people have these |
Limited Government | Gov't has only the power we give it |
Felony | A crime punished by at least one year in prision |
Veto | To refuse to approve |
Executive Branch | President is head of this branch |
Judicial Branch | Where disputes of law are settled |
Judicial Review | Courts decide what the law means |
Jurisprudence | Wisdom of the law |
Legislative intent | Why lawmakers enacted a law |
Checks and Balances | Prevents one branch of a gov't from dominating |
Federalism | The division of power among levels of gov't |
Recall | Removal from office by direct vote of people |
Lobbyists | Individuals hired to influence legislators |
Referendum | People decide an issue by voting |
Settlement | Mutual agreement to end a lawsuit |
Advocacy | Active support for a cause |
Precedent | A court decision guiding future cases |
Tribal courts | Native American courts |
Small Claims Court | The People's Court is an example |
Trial Court | Where the facts of a case are decided |
Criminal Court | Hear violations of the law involving jail time |
Federal District Courts | Trial courts in the federal court system |
Allegations | Unproven statements made against a defendant |
Jury | The finder of facts at trial |
Motion | A request by one party for the court to take action |
Peremptory Challenge | Removal of a juror without cause |
Plaintiff | Person who brings a private lawsuit |
Prosecution | The accuser in a criminal case |
Removal for Cause | Dismissal of a juror for an approved reason |
Verdict | A jury's decision in a trial |
Malpractice | A serious error by a lawyer in a case |
Contingency Fee | Lawyer's fee based on a percentage of amount awarded |
Privilege | Another name for protected communications |