| A | B |
|---|
| referendum | process by which a legislative measure is referred to the State's voters for final approval or rejection |
| pardon | a governor may release a person from the legal consequences of a crime |
| criminal law | the portion of the law that defines public wrongs and provides for their punishment |
| felony | a serious crime which may be punished by a heavy fine and/or imprisonment or even death |
| misdemeanor | a lesser offense, punishable by a small fine and/or a short jail term |
| civil law | relates to human conduct, to disputes between private parties, and to disputes between private parties and government not covered by criminal law |
| warrant | a court order authorizing, or making legal, some official action |
| county | a major unit of local government in most States |
| income tax | a tax levied on the income of individuals and/or corporations |
| property tax | a tax levied on real and personal property |
| budget | a financial plan for the use of money, personnel, and property |
| item veto | the governor may veto one or more items in a bill without rejecting the entire bill |
| statutory law | law passed by a state legislature |
| recall | a petition procedure by which voters may remove an elected official from office before the completion of his or her regular term |
| parole | allows the release of a prisoner short of the complete term of the original sentence |
| precedent | court decision that stands as an example to be followed in future, similar cases |
| bench trial | a trial in which the judge alone hears the case |
| jury | a body of persons selected according to law who hear evidence and decide questions of fact in a court case |
| mayor-council government | the oldest and most widely used type of government |
| sales tax | a tax placed on the sale of various commodities, paid by the purchaser |
