Sources of Law
What is the Constitution?
The supreme law of the United States.
What are U.S. District Courts?
The lowest level of federal courts.
What is the Bill of Rights?
The first ten amendments to the Constitution.
Who is the plaintiff?
The party who files a lawsuit.
What is preponderance of the evidence?
The burden of proof in most civil cases.
What are statutes?
What are statutes?Laws created by legislative bodies.
What is the U.S. Supreme Court?
The highest court in the United States
What is the Commerce Clause?
The clause that regulates interstate commerce.
What is a complaint?
The document that begins a lawsuit.
What is a crime?
A wrong against society prosecuted by the government.
What is case law?
Law is developed through court decisions.
What is subject matter jurisdiction?
Authority of a court to hear a particular type of case.
What is the Supremacy Clause?
Prevents states from interfering with federal law.
What is discovery?
The pretrial phase where parties exchange information.
What is a tort?
A private wrong against a person or property.
What are regulations?
Administrative agencies create these to enforce statutes.
What is personal jurisdiction?
Authority over the parties in a case.
What is Due Process?
Requires the government to follow fair procedures.
What is summary judgment?
A decision made without a full trial because there are no material facts in dispute.
What is a contract?
An agreement enforceable by law.
What is stare decisis?
The doctrine that courts follow precedent.
What is removal?
The ability to remove a case from state court to federal court.
What is strict scrutiny?
Government classification based on race is reviewed under this highest level of scrutiny.
What is a summons?
An order to appear in court.
What are damages?
Monetary compensation awarded to an injured party.