law
a rule of conduct, generally found enacted in the form of a statute, that proscribes or mandates certain forms of behavior
statutory law
the written or codified law; the "law on the books" as enacted by a government body or agency having the power to make laws
penal code
the written, organized, and compiled form of the criminal laws of a jurisdiction
case law
the body of judicial precedent, historically built on legal reasoning and past interpretations of statutory laws, that serve as a guide to decision making, especially in the courts
common law
the body of law originating from usage and custom rather than from written statutes
rule of law
the maxim that an orderly society must be governed by established principles and known codes that are applied uniformly and fairly to all of its members
jurisprudence
the philosophy of law or the science and study of the law, including the rule of law
criminal law
the body of rules and regulations that define and specify the nature of and punishments for offenses of a public nature or for wrongs committed against the state or society
substantive law
the part of the law that defines crimes and specifies punishments
procedural law
the part of the law that specifies the methods to be used in enforcing substantive law
civil law
the branch of modern law that governs relationships between parties
tort
a wrongful act, damage, or injury not involving a breach of contract
parties to a civil suit
the plaintiff and the defendant
plaintiff
they who seek relief
defendant
they whom are against those who seek relief
administrative law
the body of regulations that governments create to control the activities of industries, businesses, and individuals
precedent
a legal principle that ensures that previous judicial decisions are authoritatively considered and incorporated into future cases
stare decisis
a legal principle that requires that in subsequent cases on similar issues of law and fact, courts be bound by earlier decisions and by those of higher courts having jurisdiction over them