chapter 1 Flashcards
Administrative law
The body of law created by administrative agencies in order to carry out their duties and responsibilities
Primary sources of law
US constitution
Statutory law
Laws from administrative agencies
Case law and common law
Secondary sources of law
Books and articles that summarize and clarify the primary sources of law
Constitutional law
Law that is based on the US constitution
The constitution is law of the land according to
Article 6
Statutory law
The body of law enacted by legislative bodies (as opposed to constitutional law, admin law or case law)
- includes ordinances
Ordinances
A law passed by a local governing unit such as a municipality or a county
Uniform laws
A model law created for the states to consider adopting. If the state adopts it it becomes statutory law
Executive agencies
An admin agency within the executive branch of the government. At the federal level, exec agencies are those within the cabinet departments
- subject to the authority of the president
Independent regulatory agencies
Not considered part of the executive branch.
- officials cannot be removed without cause
Case law
The rules of law announced in court decisions
- judge made law
Common law
The body of law developed from custom or judicial decisions in English and US courts, not attributable to a legislature
Remedies
The relief given to an innocent party to enforce a right or compensate for the violation of a right
In old days: land, items of value, money (remedies at law)
- could only be awarded in courts of law
Today: money damages
Chancellor
an adviser to the king at the time of early kings courts of England
Remedies in equity
A remedy granted in an equity court
Breaches
To violate a law by an act or omission, or to break a legal obligation that one owes to another person or to society
Equitable maxims
General propositions or principles of law that have to do with fairness (,equity)
Whoever seeks equity must do equity
Anyone who wishes to be treated fairly must treat others fairly
Where there is equal equity, the law will prevail
The law will determine the outcome of a controversy in which the merits of both sides are equal
One seeking the aid of an equity court must come to court with clean hands
The plaintiff must have acted fairly and honestly
Equity will not suffer a wrong to be without a remedy
Equitable relief will be awarded when there is a right to a relief and there is no adequate remedy at law
Equity regards substance rather than form
Equity is more concerned with fairness and justice than with legal technicalities
Equity aids the vigilant, not those who rest on their rights
Equity will not help those who neglect their rights for an unreasonable period of time
Laches
The equitable doctrine that bars a party’s right to legal action if the party has neglected for an unreasonable length of time to act on his or her rights
Defense
Reasons that a dependent offers why the plaintiff should not obtain what he or she is seeking
Defendant
One against whom a lawsuit is brought, the accused person of a criminal proceeding