Law Flashcards
What are the 4 primary sources of law?
- Constitutional Law
- Statutory Law/Legislation
- Common Law/Case Law
- Administrative Law
True or False:
Constitutional Law exists at both the federal and state level.
True
How are statutory laws created and approved?
Created by a legislative body (Congress) and approved by the executive branch (president or governor).
What’s another name for common law?
Case law
Who makes common laws?
Appellate courts
When a decision from an appellate court becomes a case precedent, where is it binding?
Usually only binding within the jurisdiction of the court setting the precedent
What is the doctrine of stare decisis?
A principle that similar cases with similar facts and issues should have the same judicial outcome.
What does administrative law regulate?
The exercise of authority by government agencies.
What’s another name for administrative law?
Regulations
How are secondary sources of law different than primary sources?
They have no independent authority and are not legally binding.
What are restatements of the law?
Summaries of common law.
Collections of uniform legal principles in a specific area of law that are designed to reduce the complexity of judicial decisions.
What are two examples of restatements of law?
Torts and contracts
What are uniform model statutes?
Statutes drafted by legal experts, in hopes that they will be used or adopted by state legislatures to provide uniformity in laws between the states.
What are civil laws designed to do?
Compensate individuals
What are criminal laws designed to do?
Protect society through penalizing violators with fines and imprisonment.
What do substantive laws do?
Provide individuals with rights and create certain duties.
What do procedural laws do?
Provide a structure and set out rules for pursuing substantive rights.
What’s the difference between public and private laws?
Public laws are created by government entities while private laws (like contracts) are recognized as binding even though no specific statute or regulation provides for the rights of the parties.
What are the two roles of the judiciary?
- Courts adjudicate disputes
2. Certain courts are charged with the responsibility of judicial review.
Are most court cases filed in federal or state courts?
State courts
What are the two types of state courts?
State trial courts and state appellate courts
What are the principal federal trial courts?
U.S. district courts
What are federal appellate courts called?
U.S. courts of appeal
What is the ultimate arbiter of federal law?
U.S. Supreme Court
Does litigation in out-of-state courts increase or decrease costs?
Increase costs
True or False:
Federal Courts are Courts of Limited Jurisdiction.
True
Subject Matter Jurisdiction:
Federal Courts may hear cases under what circumstances:
- Federal questions (claims arising under the U.S. Constitution, an act of Congress, or a treaty)
- Diversity of citizenship (parties to the dispute reside in different states and the lawsuit involves more than $75,000)
- If the US is a party
What is concurrent jurisdiction?
When a case can be brought to either state or federal courts
What is exclusive jurisdiction?
When a case can only be brought in either a state court or a federal court
Personal Jurisdiction:
A court has personal jurisdiction under what circumstances?
- Residents and businesses located in the state
- Non-residents with minimum contacts
- Non-residents owning property
- Voluntary – Forum Selection Clause
What is the legal concept that defines the most appropriate location for the trial within a jurisdiction?
Venue