A Civil Matter
A system of law based on precedent and customs
Common law
A court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why the person is being held
Writ of habeas corpus
A law established by judicial decisions instead of by legislative action
Case law
A sum of money used as a security deposit to ensure that an accused person returns for his or her trial
Bail
The amendment to the Constitution that protects the accused from self-incrimiation
Fifth Amendment
A ruling that is used as the basis for a judicial decision in a later, similar case
Precedent
A law that punishes a person accused of a crime without a trial or a fair hearing in court
Bill of attainder
Rules and regulations set by government agencies
Administrative Law
An attitude or belief based on likelihood
Presumption
French emperor who established a code that was practiced throughout Europe and France's colonies
Napoleon Bonaparte
A law written by a legislative branch of government
Statute
A law that would allow a person to be punished for an action that was not against the law when it was committed
Ex post facto law
A rule that evidence gained y police in a way the violates the Fourth Amendment may not be used in a trial
Exclusionary rule
An organized statement of a body of law
Code
Mesopotamian king that established the first set of written laws
Hammurabi
A legal action in which a person or group sues to collect damages for some harm that is done
Lawsuit
A law that would allow a person to be punished for an action that was not against the law when it was committed
Due process
List of rights police must inform persons of before questioning, including the right against self-incrimination and the right to counsel
Miranda Warning
Capable of being or becoming
Potential
Byzantine emperor that simplified and codified laws during his reign
Justinian I
Branch of law dealing with the formation, construction, and interpretation of constitutions
Constitutional law
A court order allow law-enforcement officers to search a suspect's home or business and take specific items as evidence
Search warrant
Putting someone on trial for a crime for which he or she was previously acquitted
Double jeopardy
Supreme Court ruling that in 1966 determined that a suspect must be made aware of their 5th amendment rights at the time of detention
A trial process that members of the military may be subjected to if they are accused of wrongdoing
Court-martial