The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Double jeopardy protects people from being tried for the same crime twice in a court of law. The clause is found in the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, where it was included to prevent the government from erroneously or maliciously convicting innocent people, and to protect people from the consequences of successive prosecutions. It also helps to preserve […]
Read moreCollective bargaining is the negotiation process that takes place between an employer and a group of employees when certain issues arise. The employees rely on a union member to represent them during the bargaining process, and the negotiations often relate to regulating such issues as working conditions, employee safety, training, wages, and layoffs. When an agreement is reached, the resulting […]
Read moreArson is the criminal act of burning or charring property on purpose. The act of arson may include such acts as setting fire to a property maliciously, or burning a property with the intent to collect insurance money. While most people consider arson to be the burning of buildings, it may also be the burning of cars, boats, personal property, […]
Read moreJoint Venture meaning in law When two or more parties, whether individuals or entities, enter into an agreement to combine resources for a specific business undertaking, it is referred to as a “joint venture.” The organization of a joint venture serves as a short term partnership for the duration of the project, in which each participant shares responsibility for the […]
Read moreFelony meaning in law Felony is the classification of the most serious types of crimes. Covering a wide range of criminal acts, felonies often involve crimes involving physical harm, or large scale theft and fraud. Punishment for these types of crimes often includes imprisonment, the length of which is defined in each state’s penal codes. To explore this concept, consider […]
Read moreIn the legal system, a “cause of action” is a set of facts or legal theory that gives an individual or entity the right to seek a legal remedy against another. This applies to the filing of a civil lawsuit for such wrongs as property damages, personal injury, or monetary loss, as well as to criminal wrongs such as battery, […]
Read moreA defendant is a person or entity that is facing a civil lawsuit, or that has been accused of a crime. The word “defendant” is often used interchangeably with other terms including “accused” or “respondent.” A criminal defendant has been charged with committing a crime, and is often placed in jail until bail is posted or the resolution of a […]
Read moreA contract or written agreement between the issuer of a bond and the bondholder or investor is referred to a “bond indenture.” The bond indenture specifies the terms of the contract, including the interest rate, convertibility, maturity date, and other important terms. To explore this concept, consider the following bond indenture definition. Definition of Bond noun. An official document in […]
Read moreBattery is the criminal act of intentionally touching, or applying force to the body of another person in an offensive manner, covering a wide range of acts, including those of a sexual nature. Simple battery is considered a misdemeanor in most states, but aggravating circumstances can cause battery to fall under the category of a felony. Each state has specific […]
Read moreForgery is a criminal act that takes place when a person falsifies something with the intent to deceive another person or entity. There are many kinds of forgery, but all are considered crimes in the United States. Forgery has a long history, but it became more common in the 20th century as technology has made it easier for criminals to […]
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