Street Law Vocab Test 1

Jurisprudence

The study of law and legal philosophy

Criminal law

Law that regulates public conduct and sets out duties owed to society

Felony

Criminal offense punishable by a prison sentence of more than one year in jail

Misdemeanor

Criminal offense punishable by a prison sentence of one year or less

Civil law

Regulate relations between individuals or groups of individuals

Civil action

A lawsuit that can be brought by a person who feels wronged or injured by another person

Defendant

Person accused of committing the crime

Plaintiff

The person or company harmed

Prosecutor

The state or federal government's attorney in a criminal case

Beyond reasonable doubt

The level of proof required to convict a person of a crime

Preponderance of evidence

The standard of proof used in a civil suit, to win, a party must provide evidence that is more convincing than the other side's evidence

Limited government

Limits government to powers provided to it by the people

Separation of powers

The division of power among the branches of government

Statutes

Written laws enacted by legislatures

Checks and balances

The power of each of the three branches of government to limit the other branches' power, so as to prevent abuse

Veto

The power of the president to prevent the enactment of a law

Judicial review

The process by which courts decide whether the laws passed by congress or state legislatures are constitutional

Unconstitutional

Conflicting with some provision of the Constitution

Conflict of interest

A situation where a professional's personal or financial interests, or their duties to another client, interfere with their ability to give loyal and objective representation.

Independent counsel

A temporary prosecutor appointed to investigate high-ranking government officials when regular channels have a conflict of interest

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, which guarantee basic individual rights to all persons in the United States

Federalism

The division of powers between the states and the federal government

Perjury

Lying under oath

Kidnapping

Unlawful confinement or transportation of a person against their will

Human Rights

Fundamental rights and freedoms that belong to every person by virtue of being human, regardless of their race, gender, nationality, religion, or other status

Social Contract

Giving up certain freedoms in exchange for state protection and social order

Fraud

Intentional act of deception, misinterpretation, or concealment of the truth to secure an unfair or unlawful gain or deprive a victim

DWI

Driving while intoxicated/ impaired

Embezzlement

The fraudulent taking or misuse of money or property by a person who was trusted to manage or safeguard it

Harassment

Any unwanted: unwelcome behavior or communication that annoys, threatens, demeans, or alarms another person

Self Defense

The act of protecting your own body, property, or family from harm or an immediate attack

Insanity

A person suffers from a severe mental disease or defect that prevents them from understanding the nature of their actions or knowing right from wrong at the time they commit an offense

Intoxication

A state of diminished mental or physical control caused by the voluntary or involuntary consumption of alcohol, drugs, or other chemical substances

Entrapment

When a person claims law enforcement tricked or pressured them into committing a crime they otherwise would not have done

Bribery

The act of offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting something of value to dishonestly influence the actions of a person in power

Sex Crimes

An illegal sexual act done to another person without permission or with someone who cannot legally agree