Law Vocab

Question 1

Absolute Majority

Answer 1

More than half of the formal votes in an election

Question 2

Access

Answer 2

Equal opportunity for people to use the legal system

Question 3

Adversarial system

Answer 3

A legal system that involves 2 parties presenting their case to an impartial judge or jury

Question 4

Anarchy

Answer 4

A state of disorder due to lawlessness an absence of government

Question 5

Appeal

Answer 5

An application to a higher court to review a legal decision because one party believes there was an error in legal reasoning

Question 6

Bail

Answer 6

To release an accused person as they await their trial

Question 7

Balance of power

Answer 7

The power of an individual or party because they hold the casting vote

Question 8

Balance of probabilities

Answer 8

A standard of proof in civil trials requiring the evidence to show that an event more likely occurred than didn’t

Question 9

Ballot paper

Answer 9

Piece of paper where voters record their vote

Question 10

Beyond reasonable doubt

Answer 10

A standard of proof in criminal trials requiring evidence to show no reasonable conclusions other than guilt

Question 11

Cabinet

Answer 11

Group of selected government ministers who meet regularly to decide major parliamentary issues

Question 12

Coalition

Answer 12

A government that is possible because 2+ parties agree to collaborate and thus gain a majority

Question 13

Committal hearing

Answer 13

A hearing in a local court where it’s decided whether there’s enough evidence to put a person on trial for an indictable offence

Question 14

Common law

Answer 14

A set of legal principles (precedents) derived from judges’ previous decisions

Question 15

Constitution

Answer 15

A document outlining the powers of parliament/the legal system

Question 16

Constitutional monarchy

Answer 16

A government form where a non-elected monarch is the head of state, but there are constitutional limits on their power

Question 17

Court

Answer 17

A place for people to resolve legal disputes

Question 18

Defendant

Answer 18

The party in a civil/criminal trial who faces legal action brought against them

Question 19

Democracy

Answer 19

A system of government where political power lies with the people

Question 20

Discriminate

Answer 20

To treat someone differently or more poorly because of personal characteristics such as sex, sexuality, race, etc.

Question 21

Double dissolution

Answer 21

When the head of parliament (the governor general) decides to dissolve both houses of parliament, putting every seat up for re-election

Question 22

Federation

Answer 22

When the colonies joined together to form one country - Australia

Question 23

Federal parliament

Answer 23

The House of Representatives and the Senate

Question 24

Formal vote

Answer 24

A vote that’s been correctly marked on the paper, adhering to rules

Question 25

House of Representatives

Answer 25

The lower house of parliament consisting of 150 MPs, often called "The People's House".

Question 26

Hung parliament

Answer 26

When no party has a majority of members elected in parliament

Question 27

Independent

Answer 27

A candidate or member of parliament not affiliated with any political party

Question 28

Indictable offence

Answer 28

A serious crime

Question 29

Judge

Answer 29

A court official who makes decisions on matters brought before a court

Question 30

Judiciary

Answer 30

A system of courts that interprets and applies the law in a country

Question 31

Jury

Answer 31

A collection of people (12 or 6) who hear the evidence in a case and can decide upon the outcome of the case

Question 32

Laws

Answer 32

A set of legal rules

Question 33

Lobby

Answer 33

To attempt to get political/popular support for a cause

Question 34

Magistrate

Answer 34

A court official who hears and decides the outcome of cases in the lowest courts

Question 35

Minority government

Answer 35

A situation in which a party has more seats than the opposing party, so has formed a government, but less than half of the seats in the house.

Question 36

Non-parole

Answer 36

The time a prisoner must serve before they are eligible for release on the promise of good behaviour

Question 37

Parole

Answer 37

Releasing a prisoner on the promise of good behaviour

Question 38

Plaintiff

Answer 38

The party that commences a civil action

Question 39

Portfolio

Answer 39

An area of government responsibility, eg: defence, health, etc.

Question 40

Precedent

Answer 40

Judges' previous legal decisions forming a point of law, serving as a rule in future similar cases

Question 41

Preferences

Answer 41

Order that voters list candidates in an election, after they've made their first choice

Question 42

Preferential system

Answer 42

A counting system that allows most Australians to have their say in an election by stating in which order they prefer the candidates

Question 43

Private law

Answer 43

Deals with disputes between private citizens

Question 44

Private member's bill

Answer 44

A bill introduced by a backbencher as opposed to coming from the government

Question 45

Proportional representation

Answer 45

Each senator must win a quota of votes to win a senate seat

Question 46

Prosecutor

Answer 46

The party bringing a criminal action against the accused; usually it's the state

Question 47

Public law

Answer 47

Deals with disputes affecting the whole community

Question 48

Quota

Answer 48

Number of votes a candidate for the senate must get to win a seat

Question 49

Referendum

Answer 49

A vote where the whole electorate votes on a particular proposal; one must be held for changes in the constitution

Question 50

Senate

Answer 50

The upper house of Federal parliament, sometimes called the State's house

Question 51

Separation of powers

Answer 51

Government functions being spread across the legislative, executive and judiciary branches

Question 52

Statute law

Answer 52

Law made by the parliament

Question 53

Sue

Answer 53

To bring a civil action against someone for causing damage or injury

Question 54

Tort

Answer 54

A civil wrong

Question 55

Trial

Answer 55

A process to determine whether someone is guilty of/liable for what they have been accused of