The Law Dictionary for Everyone
The legal term implied consent refers to situations in which it is assumed a person consented to something by his actions. This means that, although the person has not given verbal or written consent, circumstances exist that would cause a reasonable person to believe the other had consented. Questions of implied consent arise in a variety of situations, including medical […]
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 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 […]
Read moreThe term distributive justice refers to fairness in the way things are distributed, caring more about how it is decided who gets what, rather than what is distributed. In modern society, this is an important principle, as it is generally expected that all goods will be distributed throughout society in some manner. In a society with a limited amount of […]
Read moreWhen an appellate court reaches a verdict, it is common for a written opinion to be provided, announcing the court’s decision, and its reasoning behind arriving at that decision. When a panel of judges is involved, those judges who disagree with the majority vote may supply their own written opinions, expressing their reasons for dissenting. This is called a dissenting […]
Read moreThe term dictatorship refers to a form of government in which a single person, or a very small group of people, hold all of the power, and wield absolute authority. Many dictatorships are, at least initially, established by force and violence, and once a dictator is in place, the nation’s citizens have virtually no say in the affairs of their […]
Read moreA democracy is a form of government in which the leaders are chosen by the citizens’ votes, and in which the people have a say in decisions about the state’s affairs. The primary characteristics of democracy include political freedom, rule of law, and legal equality. In order for these principles to be authentic, every eligible citizen must have equal access […]
Read moreThere are two sides to every argument: (1) the “claim,” and (2) the “counterclaim.” The first is a statement of the party’s point, or argument for something. The second is a rebuttal, or argument opposing the claim. Once the parties have made their claims and counterclaims, they introduce the reasoning behind their arguments, and present evidence to support those claims. […]
Read more