Pgs. 10-13 Vocab

Question 1

criminal law

Answer 1

the branch of law that deals with crimes and their punishment

Question 2

felony

Answer 2

a serious criminal offence punishable by a prison sentence of more than one year

Question 3

misdemeanor

Answer 3

a criminal offense less serious, punishable by a prison sentence of one year or less

Question 4

civil law

Answer 4

all law that does not involve criminal matters. such as contract and tort law; usually deals with private rights of individuals, groups, or businesses

Question 5

civil action

Answer 5

a noncriminal lawsuit, brought to enforce a right or redress a wrong

Question 6

defendant

Answer 6

the person against who a claim is made; civil suit - person being sued; criminal case - person charged with committing a crime

Question 7

plaintiff

Answer 7

civil case - the injured party who brings legal action against the alleged wrongdoer

Question 8

prosecutor

Answer 8

the state or federal government’s attorney in a criminal case

Question 9

beyond a reasonable doubt

Answer 9

level of proof required to convict a criminal; does not mean to be ‘100% convinced ‘ but does mean there are no reasonable doubts as to guilt

Question 10

preponderance of the evidence

Answer 10

used in civil suits; the burden of proof that a party must meet in order to win the lawsuit - involves providing evidence that is more convincing than the other side’s evidence

Question 11

limited government

Answer 11

basic principle of our constitution; it limits the government’s powers provided by the people

Question 12

separation of powers

Answer 12

the division of powers among branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial)

Question 13

status

Answer 13

written laws enacted by legislatures

Question 14

checks and balances

Answer 14

the power of each of the three branches of government to limit the other branches’ power, so as to prevent an abuse

Question 15

veto

Answer 15

prohibit; the power of the chief executive to prevent enactment of a bill (prevent becoming a law)

Question 16

judicial review

Answer 16

the process by which a court decides whether the laws passed by Congress or state legislatures are constitutional

Question 17

unconstitutional

Answer 17

conflicting with some provision of the constitution

Question 18

federalism

Answer 18

the division of powers between the states and the federal government

Question 19

bill of rights

Answer 19

the first ten amendments to the constitution - guarantees basic individual rights to all persons in the US

Question 20

law

Answer 20

system of rules, prolgated and enforced by the government of a particular country or community, which regulates the actions of its members and may be enforced by the imposition of penalties

Question 21

rule of law

Answer 21

idea that the country should be ruled by laws, not individuals

Question 22

common law

Answer 22

courts made laws, two people come before the judge, cases presented

Question 23

magna carta

Answer 23

‘great charter’ - free treatment needed to be given to everyone, including ruler

Question 24

social contract

Answer 24

agreement to live together under the common good

Question 25

John Locke

Answer 25

believed in natural law, social contract

Question 26

Jean Jacques-Rosseau

Answer 26

believed in equality, freedom, and the common good

Question 27

Baron de Montesquieu

Answer 27

maintain law and order

Question 28

evidence

Answer 28

used to sway the jury as proof that something happened

Question 29

precedent

Answer 29

example; must be followed by other cases

Question 30

voir dire

Answer 30

examination/questioning of the potential jurors

Question 31

removal for cause

Answer 31

attorney request removal of a potential juror who appears incapable of rendering a fair verdict

Question 32

peremptory challenge

Answer 32

prospective juror can be removed without stating cause

Question 33

writ of certiorari

Answer 33

request for the Supreme Court to review a case

Question 34

stare decisis

Answer 34

all courts must stand by the US Supreme Court’s decision