Chapter Twelve: Finding and Interpreting Enacted Law

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts and terms from Chapter Twelve on finding and interpreting enacted law.

Statutory Citation

The 'address' of a law that tells where to find it in a legal code.

Legal Code

A collection that organizes all permanent laws by topic in a big book.

Annotated Code

A law that includes helpful notes, summaries, and research tools.

Statutory Interpretation

The process of determining what a law really means.

Statutory Elements

Specific parts or requirements of a law that must be proven for application.

Issue

The specific legal question a court must decide in a case.

Prior Court Decisions (Precedent)

Rulings made by higher courts that lower courts must follow.

Legislative Intent

The purpose lawmakers had in mind when passing a law.

Plain Meaning Rule

The principle that courts interpret a law by using ordinary meanings of its words.

Legislative History

Records and documents made while a law was being created.

Canons of Construction

Guidelines used by judges to help interpret unclear laws.

Strict Construction

Reading laws narrowly and carefully, especially criminal or tax laws.

Remedial Statute

A law created to fix a problem or protect harmed individuals.

Judicial Restraint

Judges limit their power and follow the law as written, deferring to lawmakers.

Judicial Activism

Judges take an active role in shaping the law to protect rights.

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)

The official collection of rules made by federal agencies to enforce laws.

Citing Constitutions

Using Article, Section, Clause, or Amendment to reference a Constitution.

Constitutional Interpretation

The method judges use to determine the meaning of the Constitution.

Originalism

The theory that the Constitution's meaning is fixed and does not change.

Living Constitution

The belief that the Constitution adapts to modern society and evolving values.