Reservations
a legal way of making a provision less enforceable than it might be otherwise
Criminal Law
The branch of law dealing with crimes and their punishments
Misdemeanors
Criminal offense, less serious than felony(punishable by prison sentence of 1 year or less)
Plaintiff
Injured party who brings legal action against the alleged wrongdoer
Human Rights
Basic privileges as a human being
Felony
Serious criminal offense (punishable by prison sentence of more than a year)
Civil Law
Law that does not involve criminal matters, (deals with private rights of individuals, groups, or businesses)
Civil action
a non criminal lawsuit, brought to enforce a right or redress a wrong
Defendant
an individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law.
Prosecutor
State or federal government's attorney in a criminal care
beyond a reasonable doubt
The level of proof required to convict a person of a crime
Preponderance of the evidence
The burden of proof that a party must meet in order the win lawsuit
Limited government
Basic principle of constitutional system. Limits government to powers provided by people
Separation of powers
Division of power between executive, legislative, and judicial branch
Checks and Balances
The three government branches limits each other's branch so power isn't abused
Veto
To prevent the bill from becoming a law
Judicial review
Process when courts decide laws passed by congress or legislatures are constitutional
Unconstitutional
Conflicting with provision of Constitution
Federalism
The division of powers between the states and federal government
Bill of Rights
First 10 amendments to the Constitution
Ordinances
A County or city law
Supremacy Clause
a provision in article VI of constitution stating U.S laws and treaties must be followed even if local laws disagree
Bill
a proposed law being considered by a legislature
legislative intent
what the lawmakers who passed a law wanted the law to mean
Statues
written laws enacted by legislatures
Public hearings
Hearings that are open to the public
Trial
Court preceeding
appeals court
a court in which appeals from trial-court decisions are heard
precedent
court decision on a legal question that guides future cases with similar questions
Treaty
A pact between nations
Extradition
the legal process in which one country or state asks another to surrender a suspected or convicted criminal