AOS 1 Flashcards
Sue
Taking civil action against another.
Persuasive Precedent
- Legal reasoning for a decision of a lower (or equal) court within the same jurisdiction,
- May be considered relevant (and therefore used as a source of influence) even though it is not binding.
Supremecy of Parliment
Final law-making power rests with parliment which can repeal and amends its own statue and pass legislation to override common law.
Equality
All people being equal is status, rights or opportunities.
Family Law
- Marriage,
- Divorce,
- Adoption,
- De facto relationships.
Tort
- A term that literally means ‘wrong’, (French)
- A wrong that interferes with a person’s legally protected interests.
Doctrine of Precedent
- Common law principle
- Reasons for the decisions of higher courts are binding on courts ranked lower in the same hierarchy in cases where the material facts are similar.
Crime
An act of omission that is:
- Against an existing law an existing law
- Harmful to an individual or to society as a whole
- Punishable by law.
Statute Law
Law made by parliment: also known as Acts of Parliment or legislation.
Types of Law
What area the law covers (Criminal or Civil).
Conviction
- When an offender has been found guilty
- The court records a guilty verdict
- In some instances, a court decides not to record a conviction so the offender does not have a criminal record.
Statutory Interpretation
- Judges give meaning to the words or phrases in an Act of Parliament
- Can be applied to resolve a case before the court.
Known
People are aware of any changes to the law.
Sanction
A penalty imposed by a court on a person guilty of a criminal offence.
Introduction and First Reading
The bill is introduced to the first house (usually the lower house).
Prosecution, the Crown, the State
The party bringing the case on behalf of the state.
Understandable
Able to be read and comprehendable be the average citizen.
Defendant
(In civil disputes) A party who is alleged to have breached a civil law and who is being sued by the plaintiff.
Avoidng Precedent
R.O.D.D.
Stare decisis
- A Latin term meaning ‘let the decision stand’,
- Legal reasoning behind precedent.
Charge
When police formally allege that a person has committed a crime.
Appeal
An application to have a higher court review a ruling made by a lower court.
Third Reading
The bill is voted in its final form.
Compensation
What the plaintiff seeks.
What are the Characteristics of an Effective Law
- Laws must reflect society’s values,
- Laws must be enforceable,
- Laws must be known,
- Laws must be clear and understood,
- Laws must be stable.
Sources of Law
Who makes the law (Courts or Parliament).
Abrogate (abrogation)
To cancel or abolish a court-made law by passing an Act of Parliment.
Compensation Order
- An order made by a court
- Offender pays money to a person who has suffered less damage as a result of offences.
Binding Precedent
- Legal reasoning for a decision of a higher court
- Must be followed by a lower court in the same jurisdiction in cases where the material facts are similar.
Civil wrong
A tort
Proclamation
the Act comes into operation.
Enforcable
Able to be imposed so that it is complied with.