Rule of law
Due process
The right of people accused of crimes to have laws that treat them fairly, so that they cannot lose their life or freedom without having their legal rights protected.
Enforce
To carry out
Statute
A law passed at state level
Type
A particular category, kind, or group
Precedent
A court decision in an earlier case with facts and legal issues similar to those in a case currently before a court
Monarchy
A form of government headed by King or queen who inherits the position, rules for life, and holds power that can range anywhere between limited to absolute.
Petition
A formal written request made to a person in authority, a leader, and /or an elected official
Magna Carta
A government document that limited power of the King of England and protected the rights of the nobility; written by the English nobles in 1215
Trial
A legal process in which someone accused of a crime faces a judge and a jury, whose job is to look at the facts an decide whether the accused person is guilty or not guilty; the right to a trial is protected in the sixth amendment.
Sourde
A main reference or point of origin
Law
A rule established by government or other source of authority to regulate people's conduct or activities.
Regulate
A rule that a government agency makes to enforce a law
Code of Hammurabi
A written code of rules that guided the ancient society of Babylon; dates back to 1772 B.C
Sixth amendment
An amendment to the constitution that provides protections and rights to a person accused of a crime, including the right to a speedy trial with an impartial jury.
Common law
Law based on customs and prior legal decisions; used in civil cases
Case law
Law established based on the outcome of former court people.
Criminal law
Law that deals with crimes and the punishments for those crimes.
Juvenile law
Law that deals with people who are under the age of 18
Civil law
Law that deals with relationships between people
Constitutional law
Law that focuses on interpreting the U.S. Constitution.
Statutory law
Laws passed by congress or a stat legislature
Military law
Laws that apply only to people in the military
Supremacy clause
The clause that states that the constitution is the supreme law of land, and that national laws are supreme over the state laws, found in Article VI.
Rule of law
The idea that those who govern must follow the laws; no one is above the law
Independent judiciary
The principle that decisoins from the courts are fair and impartial and are not influenced by other branches of goverment.
Separation of powers
The structure of the federal government, according to the U.S. Constitution, that sets up three branches with their own distinct powers and responsibilities.