The Law Dictionary for Everyone
The term “public policy” refers to a set of actions the government takes to address issues within society. For example, public policy addresses problems over the long-term, such as issues with healthcare or gun control, and as such, it can take years to develop. Public policy addresses issues that affect a wider swath of society, rather than those pertaining to […]
Read moreThe term “undocumented immigrants” describes individuals who were born in a foreign country and who live in the United States with no legal right to. For example, undocumented immigrants can be individuals who came to the U.S. to work or study, then failed to leave when their temporary visas expired. The term for undocumented immigrants used to be “illegal aliens,” […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Santa Fe Independent School Dist. v. Doe, 530 U.S. 290 (2000) Case Summary of Santa Fe Independent School Dist. v. Doe: Santa Fe High School had a student school chaplain, approved by the school administration, who would read prayers over the public announcement system before home football games. Several families filed suit, claiming that […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for City of Boerne v. Flores, 521 U.S. 507 (1997) Case Summary of City of Boerne v. Flores: A Catholic Archbishop wanted to expand a church in Boerne, Texas. Local ordinances prohibited the expansion, and thus the request to expand was denied. The Archbishop challenged the denial, claiming in part that it violated the Religious […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Olmstead v. United States, 277 U.S. 438 (1928) Case Summary of Olmstead v. United States: Olmstead, and other defendants, were convicted of conspiracy to violate the Prohibition Act. The evidence used to convict consisted of wiretapped conversations that were obtained without judicial approval. Olmstead challenged his conviction, claiming that the use of the wiretap […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for California v. Greenwood, 486 U.S. 35 (1988) Case Summary of California v. Greenwood: Police seized the trash bags left outside of Respondent Greenwood’s house. Evidence of drug activity was found in the bags, and that information was used to obtain a warrant to search Greenwood’s house. That occurred on two separate occasions. The search […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Florida v. Jardines, 569 U.S. 1 (2013) Case Summary of Florida v. Jardines: Police used a drug-sniffing dog on Jardines’ front porch, and the dog alerted to the smell of marijuana. The police then obtained a warrant, found marijuana in the home, and arrested Jardines. At trial, Jardines moved to suppress the marijuana evidence. […]
Read moreThe term posse comitatus describes a group of able-bodied people formed – usually by a sheriff – for the purpose of defending the country, or to prevent others from breaking the law. Authorities no longer rely on posse comitatus, though the concept still exists as part of the American legal system. For example, a posse comitatus formed up in 2018, and […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish, 300 U.S. 379 (1937) Case Summary of West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish: The State of Washington passed a minimum wage law for women (and minors). Elsie Parrish worked as a housekeeper in the West Coast Hotel. The Hotel did not pay Parrish the statutory minimum wage. Parrish […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer, 343 U.S. 579 (1952) Case Summary of Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer: Responding to a threatened nationwide steel worker strike and concerned that much-needed steel would not be available to prosecute the Korean War, President Truman ordered federal control over most of the steel mills […]
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