Criminal Civil Law Chapter 1 Unit 2

Ordinances

A county or civil law

Supremacy Clause

The provision in Article VI of the constitution stating that in the event of conflict between state and federal law, the federal law must be applied

Bill

A proposed law being considered by a legislature

Legislative Intent

What the lawmakers who passed a law wanted the law to mean. If the language of a statute is unclear, judges will often look at the legislative intent to help them interpret the law

Public hearings

Proceedings that are open to the public. During these proceedings, evidence is considered and then a decision is reached based on this evidence

Trial

A court proceeding

Appeals Court

A court in which appeals from trial court decisions are heard

Precedent

Court decision on a legal question that guides decisions in future cases presenting similar questions

Treaty

A pact between nations; if entered into by the United States through its executive branch, the pact must be approved by “two-thirds of the senators present” under the Article II, section 2 of the constitution, to become effective

Extradition

the legal process in which one country or state asks another to surrender a suspected or convicted criminal