Contract Basics
This basic requirement of a contract arises when one party proposes to another party.
An offer
In this type of law, a private individual sues another person or company, usually to get money for damages.
Civil Law
This legal protection stops people from copying original creative works like songs, books, movies, etc.
Copyright
This is the legally mandated lowest hourly wage that an employer is allowed to pay a worker.
Minimum wage
This group of ordinary citizens are selected to listen to evidence in a trial and decide whether someone is guilty or innocent.
Because they lack legal capacity, contracts signed by this group of underage individuals are usually voidable.
A minor (or juveniles)
In this type of law, the government prosecutes someone for committing a crime against society.
Criminal Law
Plagiarism
Discrimination
This is the highest court in the United States, made up of nice justices.
This term means both sides must agree to the exact same terms for a contract to be valid.
Mutual agreement
This is the name given to a person who is being sued or accused of a crime in a courtroom.
Defendant
Government protection gives an inventor the exclusive right to make and sell a brand-new invention. This is called:
A patent
These organizations are formed by workers to band together and negotiate with bosses for better pay and safer working conditions.
A labor union
This is the official document issued by a judge that gives police permission to serach your house or car.
This legal term is used when one party breaks their promise or fails to do what they agreed to do in a contract.
A breach
While civil law handles private arguments, criminal law handles serious offenses like grand theft or kidnapping, which are known by this legal term.
Felony
This protects brand names, slogans, and logos (like the Apple logo or Nike's "Just Do It.")
A trademark
If you work more than 40 hours a week, you are usually entitled to this type of extra pay.
Overtime (or time-and-a-half)
Police must read these rights to a suspect before questioning them, starting with "You have the right to remain silent."
Miranda Rights
To make a contract legally binding, both sides must trade something of value (like cash, goods, or a service), known by this term.
Consideration
This legal term refers to a civil wrong or injury (other than a breach of a contract) for which a person can sue for damages, such as medical malpractice or slip-and-fall accidents.
Tort
This is a formula or recipe that a company keeps completely secret from competitors.
This type of contract is signed before starting a job to ensure you promise not to share the company's private information with outsiders.
Confidentiality agreement (or NDA/Non-Disclosure Agreement)
This is a formal term for a smaller, less serious crime (like petty theft or vandalism) that usually carries a penalty of less than a year in jail.
Misdemeanor