The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Gerrymandering is the act of manipulating the boundaries of an electoral district, so as to give one political party more election districts than the other party and, as a result, more votes. Gerrymandering can also be used to help or hurt a demographic in particular, such as the elderly, or the poor. While the process is technically illegal, it is […]
Read moreThe term ethnic cleansing refers to the removal of people who belong to a specific ethnic or religious group from a country, whether by forcefully displacing them, or by killing them. The goal of such actions is to establish an ethnically uniform country, or other geographic region. In addition to removing people, ethnic cleansing often involves removing any physical, cultural […]
Read moreDelegated powers are government powers specifically outlined in the U.S. Constitution. These powers limit what Congress can do, and also define what Congress is in charge of regulating. Delegated powers are those authorities that the Constitutional framers deemed worthy of Congressional effort and which the framers believed would not limit personal freedoms of individuals. The U.S. Constitution, which is both […]
Read moreThe U.S. Constitution gives the American President authority to create laws, or decide how an existing law should be carried out, through the use of executive orders. Because executive orders do not require congressional approval, the President can set important policy while sidestepping public debate. Executive orders may be used for a broad range of issues, from environmental conservation and […]
Read moreA filibuster is an action that a senator or a group of senators can take to block or delay passage of a bill or law. Such a bill or law is typically favored by the majority and is one that it is expected will pass. The most common filibuster tactic is a significantly long speech that can go on for […]
Read moreEntrapment refers to the actions of a law enforcement official that persuade or encourage a person to engage in an illegal act, which he would otherwise have been unlikely to commit. A person charged with a crime he believes a police officer, or other law enforcement official, convinced him to commit, may claim he was “entrapped,” or caught in a […]
Read moreThe term domestic policy refers to the decisions made by a government regarding issues and activities that occur within the country. This term encompasses all of the laws, planning, and actions of the government which concern internal issues that affect the entire country. Many domestic policies are devised by the federal government, though many are developed through the combined efforts […]
Read moreHarassment is the act of continued and regular unwanted actions against a victim. This may include anything from racial epithets to annoying or malicious remarks, but must become a pattern in order to qualify as harassment. Harassment is illegal and a victim can file for a restraining order against the perpetrator. To explore this concept, consider the following harassment definition. […]
Read moreThe term domestic partnership refers to an interpersonal relationship between two people who live together as though they are married, but are not legally married, nor in a civil union. This type of legally-recognized relationship affords the partners certain rights, similar to those of married partners, though it is only recognized by a handful of states. To explore this concept, […]
Read moreIn a legal context, the term egregious refers to actions or behaviors that are staggeringly bad, or obviously wrong, beyond any reasonable degree. The term is commonly used to describe conduct of a person, whether a party to a legal action, an attorney or other legal professional, or the court. Egregious behavior may take into account the legality, as well […]
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