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.