A way to influence the lawmaking process by convincing lawmakers to vote the way you want them to
What is lobbying?
100
These courts consider evidence and decide facts in disputed situations
What are trial courts?
100
An organization that licenses lawyers
What is the bar association?
100
An agreement between two or more persons to commit a crime
What is conspiracy?
200
These regulate public conduct and set out duties owed to society
What are criminal laws?
200
Procedure for citizens to propose and vote on a law of their own creation
What is an initiative?
200
A pretrial agreement between the prosecutor and the defense which disposes of the case without a trial if the defendant admits guilt, usually to a lesser charge
What is a plea bargain?
200
Payment to a lawyer as a percentage of whatever the client wins in a lawsuit
What is a contingency fee?
200
A repeat offender
What is a recidivist?
300
The burden of proof in a civil case
What is "by a preponderance of the evidence?"
300
A legislative act that is sent to the voters for their approval
What is a referendum?
300
This is the screening process for jurors
What is voir dire?
300
The state of confidentiality between a lawyer and a the person she represents
What is attorney-client privilege?
300
Requiring criminals to pay back or compensate victims
What is restitution?
400
The supremacy clause of the Constitution defines the "supreme law of the land" as the total of these three elements
What is 1) the Constitution, 2) all laws federal passed pursuant to the Constitution, and 3) all treaties?
400
Of Microsoft, AT&T, or Exxon Mobil, the corporation that has spent the most money lobbying Congress since 1989
What is AT&T? ($41m; Microsoft: $20m; Exxon: $11m)
400
Some European countries use this system where the judge is active in questioning witnesses and gathering and presenting evidence
What is the inquisitorial system?
400
A down payment on the total fee for a lawyer
What is a retainer?
400
Someone who helps the principal actually commit a crime
What is an accomplice?
500
The division of power between state and national government
What is federalism?
500
Advocacy groups are also known by this less flattering name
What are "special interest" groups?
500
These requests for a lower court to send up its records are the way that appellants ask the Supreme Court to take its case
What are petitions for certiorari (or "cert" petitions)?
500
When a lawyer is stripped of a license to practice in the profession
What is being disbarred or disbarment?
500
Crimes that do not require a guilty state of mind, like selling alcohol to minors or statutory rape