The Law Dictionary for Everyone
The Three-Fifths Compromise was a compromise reached between the northern and southern states of the U.S. in 1787. The compromise was reached during a debate over whether or not slaves should be counted when a state was determining its total number of residents for legislative and tax purposes. If they were to be counted, then the next issue was to […]
Read moreThe Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, which is better known as the “Taft-Hartley Act,” is a federal law that governs the activities and authority of labor unions. The Act was sponsored by Senator Robert A. Taft and Representative Fred. A. Hartley, hence its name. Despite the fact that President Truman called the Act a “dangerous intrusion on free speech” […]
Read moreA sworn statement is a legal document that contains facts that are relevant to a court case. Sworn statements are different from affidavits, in that sworn statements are not usually signed or certified by a notary public. Sworn statements are typically entered into evidence for personal injury cases and other types of legal proceedings. To explore this concept, consider the […]
Read moreA testator is a person who creates a will. Commonly, a female who makes a will is referred to as a “testatrix,” though some do not follow this formal title. A will is a document that someone can create either himself, or with the help of an attorney, that dictates who will inherit his property and assets upon his death. […]
Read moreSexual battery is a term describing a sexual crime that involves criminal sexual contact or touching. The difference between sexual battery and rape is that sexual battery does not involve intercourse or other kinds of forced sexual penetration. Sexual battery can occur while the victim is clothed, as well as unclothed. However, while some states use the term “sexual battery” […]
Read morePrimogeniture is a historical term that refers to the rights and responsibilities of the first-born child among siblings in a family. When used in the legal sense, the term is used to discuss the right of the eldest son in the family to inherit his parents’ estate upon their death. The initial purpose of determining primogeniture was to keep an […]
Read moreThe concept of riparian rights refers to the rights of all landowners whose properties connect to a running body of water, such as a river or stream. More specifically, the term refers to their right to make “reasonable use” of the water that flows either through or over their properties. Examples of riparian rights include swimming, boating, or fishing. To […]
Read moreProsecutorial misconduct is the act of breaking the law, or a code of ethics, while working as a prosecutor. Prosecutors are responsible for determining who should be held accountable when a crime is committed. An example of prosecutorial misconduct might occur if a prosecutor failed to turn evidence, which would prove the defendant’s innocence, to the defense attorney, choosing instead […]
Read moreProprietary information is information that a company wishes to keep secret. This type of information can include everything from a recipe, to a specific formula, or a design plan that is used to make a company’s products. It can also extend to a company’s salary structure, employment contracts, and marketing plans. An example of proprietary information, in some cases, might […]
Read moreThe “right to work” idea is a principle that affirms that every American has the right to work without being forced to join a labor union. The National Right to Work Committee advocates for every citizen to have the right to join a union, but that they must not be made to feel obliged to do so. A union is […]
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