Chapter 2 - The Presumption of Innocence & Chapter 3 - Legal Foundations Flashcards
obiter dictum
A Latin term meaning ‘by the way’; comments made by the judge in a particular case that may be persuasive in future cases (even though they do not form a part of the reason for the decision and are not binding)
Ratio decidendi
A laying term meaning ‘the reason’; the legal reasoning behind a judge’s decision. Ratio decidendi forms the binding part of a precedent
stare decisis
A Latin term meaning ‘let the decision stand’. The basic principle underlying the doctrine of precedent
Abrogate (abrogation)
To abolish or cancel a law (eg the cancellation of common law by passing an Act of Parliament)
Access
One of the principles of justice; in VCE Legal Studies access means that all people should be able to engage with the justice system and its processes on an informed basis
Accused
A person charged with a criminal offence but who has not been found guilty or pleaded guilty
Act of Parliament
A law made by parliament; a bill that has passed through parliament and has received royal assent (also known as a statute)
Appeal
An application to have a higher court review a ruling (decision)
Apprehended bias
A situation in which a fair-minded lay observer might reasonably believe that the person hearing or deciding a case (eg a judge or magistrate) might not bring an impartial mind to the case
Australian Constitution
A set of rules and principles that guide the way Australia is governed. The Australian Constitution is set out in the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act
Bias
A prejudice or lack of objectivity in relation to one person or group
Bicameral Parliament
A parliament with two houses (also called chambers). In the Commonwealth Parliament, the two houses are the Senate (upper house) and the House of Representatives (lower house). In the Victorian Parliament, the two houses are the Legislative Council (upper house) and the Legislative Assembly (lower house)
Bill
A proposed law that has been presented to parliament to become a law. A bill becomes an Act of Parliament once it has passed through all the formal stages of law-making (including royal assent)
Binding precedent
The legal reasoning for a decision of a higher court that must be followed by a lower court in the same jurisdiction (ie court hierarchy) in cases where the material facts are similar
Cabinet
The group of senior ministers in a government made up of the Prime Minister (or the premier at a state level) and senior government ministers who are in charge of a range of portfolios. Cabinet decides which bills or legislation should be presented to parliament
Characteristics of an effective law
The law must be clear, understood, known and enforceable
The law must uphold the right that people are innocent until proven guilty
Hearings and trials must be heard by independent and impartial adjudicators
The law must be applied equally and fairly
Civil dispute
A disagreement between two or more individuals (or groups) in which one of the individuals (or groups) makes a legal claim against the other
Civil Law
An area of law that defines the rights and responsibilities of individuals, groups and organisations in society and regulates private disputes
Coalition
An alliance or joining together of two or more parties, usually to form government
Codify (codification)
To collect all law on one topic together into a single statute
Common law
Law made by judges through decisions made in cases; aka case law or judge-made law (as opposed to statute law)
Contract law
An area of civil law governing the validity and enforceability of agreements made between two or more parties
Court Hierachy
The ranking of courts from lowest to highest according to the seriousness and complexity of the matters they deal with
Crime
An act (ie undertaking an action) or omission (ie failing to undertake an action) that is against an existing law, harmful for both to an individual and to society, and punishable by law (by the state)
Criminal law
An area of law that defines behaviours and conduct that are prohibited (ie crimes) and outlines sanctions (ie penalties) for people who commit them
Damages
An amount of money that one party is ordered to pay to another party for loss or harm suffered. It is most common remedy in a civil claim
Defendant
(In a civil case) a party who is alleged to have breached a civil law and who is being sued by a plaintiff
Disparity
A situation in which two or more things or people are not equal, and the inequality causes unfairness
Doctrine of precedent
The rule that the 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