The Law Dictionary for Everyone
The Latin term corpus delicti refers to the principle that there must be some proof that a crime has been committed before a person can be convicted of having committed that crime. In Western law, the term has also been widely used to refer to the object upon which the crime was committed, meaning a body, in the case of […]
Read moreIn a legal sense, the term conjecture refers to guesswork, meaning it is a supposition based on theory or opinion, without substantial evidence. Conjectures are often based on the way a situation appears, rather than on solid proof. For instance, the media often makes conjectures about the state of celebrities’ marriages based on rumor and photos submitted by unsubstantiated sources. […]
Read moreLegal documents are generally broken down into many numbered sections, making navigation through the document easier. These separate sections, paragraphs, segments, and phrases are called “clauses.” Clauses are commonly used in contracts, deeds, wills, settlement agreements, and other important documents. To explore this concept, consider the following clause definition. Definition of Clause Noun A distinct provision, article, section, or paragraph […]
Read moreThe term citation has two different uses in a legal sense: one use of the term is an official order to appear in court, such as a traffic ticket (or traffic citation); the term is also used in making reference to authoritative documents, or giving credit to outside sources in writing articles, reports, or other documents. Court citations are fairly […]
Read moreCausation is a term used to refer to the relationship between a person’s actions and the result of those actions. In a legal sense, causation is used to connect the dots between a person’s actions, such as driving under the influence, and the result, such as an accident causing serious injuries. Establishing causation is not, in itself, enough to determine […]
Read moreThe term case law refers to law that comes from decisions made by judges in previous cases. Case law, also known as “common law,” and “case precedent,” provides a common contextual background for certain legal concepts, and how they are applied in certain types of case. How much sway case law holds may vary by jurisdiction, and by the exact […]
Read moreThe phrase burden of proof refers to the obligation of a party who initiates a legal action (the “plaintiff”) to prove his or her claims. If that party cannot prove sufficiently that the other party has committed a wrong, whether civil or criminal, he loses. The level or certainty to which the plaintiff must prove his case depends on the […]
Read moreThe term bias refers to the tendency of a person to favor one thing, idea, or person over another. In a legal context, bias can lead an individual, such as a judge or juror, to treat someone unfairly, in spite of the fact that hearings and trials are designed to be unbiased assessments of the facts of a case. Bias […]
Read moreAnarchy is commonly associated with a philosophy of social freedom, through a state of chaos and an absence of social structure. The ideology of anarchism holds a fundamental belief that governmental authority is oppressive, and should be eliminated, allowing people to engage in social cooperation voluntarily. This philosophy is based on the premise that man is the best judge of […]
Read moreAdvocacy is the act of arguing in favor of, or pleading for something. Generally, advocacy refers to groups or individuals who attempt to influence decisions made by political parties, social systems, or agencies. Advocacy seeks to ensure that people who are disadvantaged, or vulnerable in society, are represented to decision-makers. To explore this concept, consider the following advocacy definition. Definition […]
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