Reading 1: System of Law Flashcards
Vocab words
plantiff
the party who begins a lawsuit by filing a complaint in the appropriate court
defendant
the party against whom a lawsuit is brought and from who recovery is sought (who is charged with a violation of the law)
stare decisis
the practice of relying on previous decisions in which similar disputes arose
common law
the body of recorded decisions that courts refer to and rely upon when making later legal decisions
precedent
a model case that a court can follow when facing a similar situation
case law
the effects of court decisions that involve the same or similar facts
statutory law
the field of law involving statues, which are laws passed Congress or by state legislatures
ordinance
a law that is passed by a local government, such as a city council
administrative law
the body of rules, regulations, and decisions created by administrative agencies
uniform commercial code (UCC)
a set of laws that governs various commercial transactions and that is designed to bring uniformity to the laws of the states
moral law
the “law” concerned with the unenforceable obligations that people have to one another
jurisdiction
the authority of a court, as granted by a constitution or legislative act, to hear and decide cases
