The Law Dictionary for Everyone
The term “expressed powers” refers to the powers that the Constitution, quite literally, expresses for the different branches of government. For example, expressed powers dictate the powers of Congress in more detail. This is because the Framers, or the individuals who drafted the Constitution, believed Congress was to be the most powerful branch of government. To explore this concept, consider […]
Read moreThe term legatee refers to any person or entity that receives an inheritance from a will. This would include anyone from long, lost relatives, to a charitable foundation — essentially anyone, or any entity, to whom the person making the will chose to leave his assets. To explore this concept, consider the following legatee definition. Definition of Legatee Pronounced leg-uh-tee […]
Read moreThe term in toto is a Latin term, which translates as “in all,” “entirely,” or “completely.” In a legal sense, the term describes an understanding, description, or acceptance of something as a whole. As an example of in toto use, one might say “The inventory was destroyed, in toto, by the fire.” This would mean that, rather than only a […]
Read moreA vexatious litigant is a person who files multiple lawsuits, without legitimate grounds, with the intention of harassing or quieting another person. A vexatious litigant may file lawsuits that are frivolous, burdensome, and/or unwarranted, and the filing of such lawsuits is considered an abuse of the legal system. Vexatious litigants may suffer sanctions as a result of their malicious behavior. […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Near v. Minnesota, United States Supreme Court, (1931) Case summary for Near v. Minnesota: Near was prevented from publishing “The Saturday Press” under a state statute which prevented the publication of “malicious, scandalous and defamatory” periodicals. This specific publication was known to publish racial slurs regarding public officials, specifically Olsen. When the state court […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Sherbert v. Verner, United States Supreme Court, (1963) Case summary for Sherbert v. Verner: Sherbert was fired because she could not work on Saturday’s for religious reasons. She subsequently filed for unemployment benefits with the state and was denied. Sherbert appealed the state courts decision’s claiming that her denial for unemployment benefits was unconstitutional. […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Fisher v. University of Texas, United States Supreme Court,(2013) Case summary for Fisher v. University of Texas: Fisher, a Caucasian woman, was denied admission into the University of Texas and challenged their admission procedures which included the consideration of an applicant’s race. Fisher alleged the procedure violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. The […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for United States v. Windsor, United States Supreme Court, (2013) Case Summary of United States v. Windsor Windsor and Spyer were legally married and moved to New York, a state which recognized their same-sex marriage. Spyer died, leaving her estate to Windsor. Windsor was denied a federal tax exemption due to the fact the couple […]
Read moreThe term “solicitor” is mainly used in England to describe attorneys who handle mostly office work, as opposed to going to court to litigate cases. In the U.S., the term is typically used to refer to a chief law enforcement officer, but it is generally not used to describe attorneys. Another important position that employs the solicitor term is the […]
Read moreA notarized letter is a letter that has been certified by a notary public. A notary public is someone who is authorized to certify certain legal documents, such as deeds or contracts. A notarized letter is certified when a notary public adds his stamp or seal to the document, ensuring that the signature on the letter is authentic. To explore […]
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