Chapter 4 Flashcards
executive orders
a rule or regulation issued by the president of the US that becomes law without the prior approval of congress
constitutional law*
law that derives from federal and state constitutions
case law*
law established through common law and legal precedent
common law
the body of unwritten law developed in England, primarily from judicial decisions based on custom and tradition
legal precedents
decisions made by judges in various courts that become rule of law and apply to future cases, even though they were not enacted by legislation
statutory law*
law passed by the US congress or state legislatures
administrative law*
including statues enacted to define powers and procedures when an agency is created
- created by congress, by the president, or by individual state legislatures
- regulations maybe passed that pertain specifically to the functions of one agency, such as the IRS, social security Administration or occupational safety and health administration
ex- health and human services
procedural law*
law that defines the rules used to enforce substantive law
ex- laws that require law enforcement officers to read suspects their rights (the Miranda warning) and govern the arrest and trial process and procedural laws
criminal law*
law that involves crimes against the state
felony*
an offense punishable by death or by imprisonment in a state or federal prison for more than one year
ex- abuse (child abuse, elder abuse, or domestic violence), arson burglary, conspiracy, embezzlement, fraud, illegal drug dealing, grand larceny, manslaughter, mayhem, murder or attempted murder, rape, robbery, tax evasion, and practicing medicine without a license
misdemeanors*
crime punishable by fine or by imprisonment in a facility other than a prison for less than one year
ex- some traffic violations, thefts under certain dollar amount, attempted burglary, and disturbing the peace
civil law*
law that involves wrongful acts against persons
people can sue another person, a business, or government
tort*
a civil wrong committed against a person or property, excluding breach of contract
must involve damage to property, or deprivation of civil liberties
may be intentional or unintentional
tortfeasor*
the person guilty of committing a tort
negligence*
an unintentional tort alleged when one may have performed or failed to perform an act that a reasonable person would or would not have done in similar circumstances
charged when a health care practitioner fails to exercised ordinary care and a patient is injured
can also be charged to an institution (what would or could a reasonable hospital do under similar circumstances?
jurisdiction*
the power of a court to hear and decide a case before it
plantiff*
the person bringing charges in the law suit
prosecution*
the government as plaintiff in a criminal case
defendant*
the person or party against whom criminal or civil charges are brought in a lawsuit
contract
a voluntary agreement between two parties in which specific promises are made for a consideration
void
without legal force or effect
breach of contract
failure of either party to comply with the terms of a legally valid contract
minor
anyone under the age of majority;18 years in most states, 21 years in some jurisdictions
statue of frauds
state legislation governing written contracts
List the 3 Branches of Congress
Federal Government
legislative
executive
judicial
Legislative Branch
Federal
made up of the two houses of CONGRESS:
- the senate (6year terms)
- the house of representatives (2 year terms)
-elected by people in his/her state
- primary duties of congress include
- making laws controlling trade between states and between the US and other countries
- making laws about taxes and borrowing money
- approving the printing of money
- declaring war on other countries
Senate’s duties
Federal
- approve and disapprove any treaties the president makes
- approve or disapprove any people the president recommends for jobs, such as cabinet officers, supreme court justices and ambassadors
- hold an impeachment trial for government official who commits a crime against the country
House of Representative duties
Federal
- introduce legislation that compels people to pay taxes
- decide if a government official should be put on trial before the senate if he or she commits a crime against the country (such a trail is called impeachment)
Executive Branch
Federal
the president
-executive orders become law without approval of congress