The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Selective incorporation is a doctrine written into the Constitution that protects American citizens from their states’ enacting of laws that could infringe upon their rights. Selective incorporation is not a law, but a doctrine that has been established and confirmed time and again by the United States Supreme Court. Essentially, selective incorporation enables the federal government to place limits on […]
Read moreThe legal term aiding and abetting refers to a person’s action to help, support, or approve of someone else’s illegal act. Aiding and abetting is a crime in itself, held against those who would somehow assist a criminal – short of physically contributing to the illegal act. In many jurisdictions, aiding and abetting is the same as an “accessory” to […]
Read moreA republic is a form of government in which the citizens elect representatives, who make all of the decisions for them. This is different from a democracy, in which the people make their own decisions on important issues by voting. This form of government does not have a monarch, but an elected leader. The first republic may have originated in […]
Read moreResignation is the process of stepping down from a job, either voluntarily or involuntarily, with the latter often resulting from less-than-pleasant scenarios. An example of resignation on an involuntary basis may occur when a disgraced C.E.O. is forced to step down from his role with the company, in order to avoid further scrutiny. Once someone has announced or handed in […]
Read moreA responsibility is a particular obligation for which an individual is to be held accountable, in order to remain upstanding member of a group or community. Good examples of responsibility, include the requirement for a student to complete all of the necessary coursework to graduate on time with the rest of his class, and the need for a parent to […]
Read moreRepublicanism is defined as a preference for a republican form of government. Those who favor republicanism have a strong dislike of monarchies that are passed down as an inheritance, such as that of England’s royal family. Rather, supporters of republicanism prefer their government to be a self-government, established by the citizens of their particular country. To explore this concept, consider […]
Read moreWhen one party makes an assertion about something, another party may make an argument against it. This is known as a rebuttal, which is a contradictory argument or evidence. Rebuttals are commonly seen in debates, and in legal actions, and are an opportunity for the opposing party to essentially say This is why you’re wrong. In a legal sense, a […]
Read moreRenters’ rights, which are more commonly referred to a “tenants’ rights,” are rights afforded to a person or group who rents, or who is interested in renting, a parcel of land, a house, or an office building. Renters are entitled to move into a home or office building that has been officially deemed clean and safe to occupy. Renters are […]
Read moreIn a legal sense, the term predicate means to base something, such as a fact, statement, or action, on another thing. For instance, a person may agree to give a crate of baseball bats to the local little league, predicated on (or based on) a parent’s withdrawal of a lawsuit. The term is also used in criminal law, as a […]
Read moreA regressive tax is a tax that takes a greater percentage of income from those who earn less, than from those with a higher income. In other words, low income people pay more, relative to their earnings, than wealthy people. A regressive tax is the exact opposite of a progressive tax, which takes the larger percentage from those who earn […]
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