Intro to Law Vocab

A person who has been charged with committing a crime or is being sued by someone

• Defendant

• Plaintiff

• Prosecutor

• DA

A person who brings a civil case (lawsuit) against another person

• Plaintiff

• Defendant

• Prosecutor

• Police Officer

A lawyer that represents the government and brings criminal charges against a person

• Prosecutor

• Defendant

• Plaintiff

• Judge

The required amount of proof for convicting a defendant of committing a crime. It means there can be no reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the defendant.

• Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

• Preponderance of the Evidence

• Supremacy Clause

• Voir Dire

The required amount of proof for a civil case for the defendant to be found to be at fault. The evidence in a civil case only needs to be greater than that of the opposing party (much lower than criminal caes)

• Preponderance of the Evidence

• Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

• Legislative Intent

• Appeals Court

A provision contained in Article VI of the Constitution that declares the Constitution to be supreme over all other laws in the United States

• Supremacy Clause

• Precedent

• Probate

• Due Process

People observing a crime in progress are more likely to not offer assistance if there are other people watching

• Bystander Effect

• Letter of the Law

• Error of Law

• Adversarial System

A retrial will be conducted in (a)   .

The decision of a court that is used as a guide for other, similar cases

• Precedent

• Inquisitional System

• Privilege

• Appeals Court

What the text of a law actually says in addition to the intended meaning

• Letter of the Law

• Rule of Law

• Error of Law

• Precedent