Terms 1
Rules and Regulations made and enforced by government that regulate the conduct of people within a society.
law
The rights all people have simply because they are human beings.
human rights
the branch of law dealing with crimes and their punishment
criminal law
Laws which regulate relations between individuals or groups of individuals.
civil laws
another name for "lawyer"
attorney
A criminal case is brought by the government against this person.
defendent
The person who brings a civil case to another person.
plaintiff
Criminal offenses punishable by more than one year in prison.
felonies
Criminal offenses punishable by less than one year in prison.
misdemeanors
What is the highest law of the land in the United States?
the Constitution
The lawyer who argues for the defendent's guilt.
prosecutor
The government has only those powers given to it in the Constitution and cannot violate the personal liberties enumerated in the Bill of Rights.
limited government
The constitution gives each branch of government different specific powers.
separation of powers
the study of law
jurisprudence
Who brings action in a criminal case?
the government
Laws which either violate the constitution or which Congress does not have the constitutional authority to pass.
unconstitutional
The president's power to refuse to approve a law passed by Congress.
veto
Each branch of government restrains the others through a system called what?
checks and balances
laws passed by Congress
statutes
What are the four basic values that U.S. laws are based upon?
moral, economic, political, social
When a judge or jury cannot vote to convict the defendant if they are not 100% sure the defendant committed the crime
beyond a reasonable doubt
When a burden of proof requires only that the evidence show that it is more likely than not that the defendent is guilty.
preponderance of evidence
A division of power betweent the states and the federal government.
federalism
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution.
Bill of Rights
What are the three branches of government? Who is in charge of each?
Executive: President
Legislative: Congress
Judicial: courts and judges