The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Yellow journalism is the use of sensational headlines, rather than factual news, to capture a reader’s attention. The hope is that the reader will choose one publication over its competitor. Examples of yellow journalism can be found next to any grocery store’s checkout line, with tabloids that boast about “shocking” celebrity news, or the “confirmation” of alien lifeforms. Modern yellow […]
Read moreSocial contract theory is a political philosophy that questions the origins of society, and the legitimacy of governmental control over individual people. It is an argument that all men have an obligation to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Seventeenth century philosopher Thomas Hobbs made the point that, if people aren’t willing to set aside […]
Read moreA responsibility is a particular obligation for which an individual is to be held accountable, in order to remain upstanding member of a group or community. Good examples of responsibility, include the requirement for a student to complete all of the necessary coursework to graduate on time with the rest of his class, and the need for a parent to […]
Read moreA regressive tax is a tax that takes a greater percentage of income from those who earn less, than from those with a higher income. In other words, low income people pay more, relative to their earnings, than wealthy people. A regressive tax is the exact opposite of a progressive tax, which takes the larger percentage from those who earn […]
Read moreRepression is the act of holding something or someone back, or holding something or someone down. Feelings can be repressed, like when someone is trying not to cry; or society can be repressed, if its government limits the people’s freedoms. An example of repression lies in women being denied certain rights, such as voting, in certain countries. To explore this […]
Read moreThe Latin term post hoc ergo propter hoc translates as “after this, therefore because of this,” is what is called a “logical fallacy.” This supposition of cause mistakenly assumes that a thing was caused by something else that occurred before. This is an example of correlation not being the same as causation. In other words, just because two things happened […]
Read morePrejudice meaning in law Prejudice is an unjustified attitude or opinion, usually a negative one, directed toward an individual for something the individual cannot control. An example of prejudice is someone thinking poorly of another person for his belonging to a certain race, or for having different religious beliefs. Prejudice is different from discrimination, which refers to taking action based […]
Read moreThe term liability refers to a broad spectrum of things a person may be held responsible for. This may be a legal liability, a financial liability, or other responsibility. An example of liability includes the legal obligation to pay a debt, or to pay for damages an individual has caused someone else. Liabilities are also counted in finances as debits […]
Read moreJim Crow Laws are a part of American history, having been enacted at the state and local levels to mandate and maintain racial segregation in the southern United States. Public facilities followed these laws in order to abide by the “separate but equal” status used to classify black Americans at the time. Facilities set apart for use by black Americans were […]
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 more