Key Terms Flashcards
Acquitted
When the case against an accused in a criminal matter is dismissed.
Accused
The person whom has been charged with a criminal allegation.
Bill of Rights
The rights of the people in a particular country. In south africa these are emcompassed within chapter 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 108 of 1996.
Case Law
Judgements of our courts that set precedents.
Causation
Casual link between an act committed and harm that is caused.
Censorship
restricted of the freedom of the expression in all forms.
Complainant
the party laying the complaint in a criminal matter, usually the victim of the crime.
Contempt of court
the unlawful and intentional violation of dignity, reputation or authority of a judicial body (for example a court) or interferance in the administration of justice in a matter pending before such a body.
Constitution
a body of fundamental principles according to which a country is governed. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. 1996. The Supreme Law of South Africa
Blog
short for weblog- sites that provide commentary or news on a particular subject; or function as personal online diaries.
copyright
the exclusive legal right granted for a specific time to an appointed person regarding their creative works.
Damages
Compensation assessed and awarded in civil matters.
Defamation
impairment of the reputation of another person.
defendant
the party defending a civil matter
delict
violation of the rights of one person by another.
grounds of justification
defences avaliable against the unlawfulness or wrongfulness or wrongfulness of an act.
lower courts
magistrates’ courts. courts of the tribal chiefs and headmen, small claims court.
invasion of privacy
unreasonable and unlawful intrusion into the private sphere of an individual.
jurist
legal writer, expert in the law.
law
a body of rules governing human conduct, recognised as binding by people and enforced by the state.
legal right
an interest conferred and protected by the law, entitiling one person to claim that another person gave something, or performed and act, or refrained from performing an act.
jurisdiction
authority or power of court to preside over a matter.
legal subject
any person (natural or juristic) subject to law.
material embodiment
the expression of ideas in material form.