Types and Sources of Law
This body of law is created by legislatures and written into codes.
What is statutory law?
This party brings a lawsuit to court seeking a legal remedy.
Who is the plaintiff?
This document is considered the supreme law of the United States.
What is the US Constitution?
In the state court system, these courts hear cases for the first time and determine facts.
What are state trial courts (circuit courts)?
The jury selection process
What is voir dire?
Laws developed from customs, traditions, and court decisions fall under this system.
What is common law?
The written explanation of a court’s decision and reasoning is called this.
What is a court opinion?
The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known by this name.
What is the Bill of Rights?
After the US District Court has ruled, this court has the ability to review that decisions without hearing new evidence.
What are the US Courts of Appeals?
When a judge alone decides the outcome of a case without a jury, this type of trial is used.
What is a bench trial?
This type of law governs relationships between private individuals or organizations.
What is civil law?
A judge’s written disagreement with the majority decision is known as this type of opinion.
What is a dissenting opinion?
Rights you are born with, such as life and liberty, are known as these.
What are natural rights?
This term refers to a court’s authority to hear a case for the first time.
What is original jurisdiction?
Excusing potential jurors for a specific legal reason is known as this.
What is a challenge for cause?
Agencies that regulate areas like communications or transportation operate under this branch of law.
What is administrative law?
This legal concept refers to past court decisions being used to guide future cases.
What is precedent?
This constitutional power allows states to protect public health, safety, and welfare.
What are police powers?
When a court has authority to review decisions made by lower courts, it has this type of jurisdiction.
What is appellate jurisdiction?
A neutral third party whose decision must be accepted by both sides is called this.
Who is an arbitrator?
Laws that explain how legal rights are enforced rather than defining the rights themselves belong to this category.
What is procedural law?
Information that helps locate legal cases, laws, or court decisions is collectively known as this.
What are citations?
Actions meant to communicate an idea, rather than spoken or written words, fall under this protected form of expression.
What is symbolic speech?
A court that can hear many different types of cases, not limited by subject matter, is said to have this.
What is general jurisdiction?
When a neutral third party helps resolve a dispute, but the decision is voluntary, this process is being used.
What is mediation?