SS.7.C.3.10

case law: law established based on the outcome of former court cases

civil law: law that deals with relationships between people (rather than relationships between people and the government)

Code of Hammurabi: a written code of rules that guided the ancient society of Babylon; dates back to 1772 B.C.

common law: law based on customs and prior legal decisions; used in civil cases

constitutional law: law that focuses on interpreting the U.S. Constitution

criminal law: law that deals with crimes and the punishments for those crimes

juvenile law: law that deals with people who are under the age of 18

Magna Carta: a government document that limited the power of the king of England and protected the rights of the nobility; written by the English nobles in 1215

military law: laws that apply only to people in the military

regulation: a rule that a government agency makes to enforce a law

source: a main reference or point of origin

statutory law: laws passed by Congress or a state legislature

type: a particular category, kind, or group

SS.7.C.2.6

bailiff: court official who keeps order in the court, calls witnesses, is in charge of and makes sure no one tries to influence the jury

case: a matter that goes before a judge or court of law

court: a place where justice is administered

court clerk: court officer responsible for giving the oath to jurors and witnesses, is also responsible for court paperwork and physical evidence

court reporter: court officer who records, word for word, everything that is said as part of the trial

cross-examination: the follow-up questioning of a witness by the side that did not call the witness to the stand

defendant: the person who answers the legal action of a plaintiff

direct examination: the first questioning of a witness by the side that called the witness to the stand

judge: a public official who decides questions brought before a court

juror: a member of a jury

jury: a group of citizens sworn to give a true verdict according to the evidence presented in a court of law

plaintiff/ prosecutor: the person who brings legal action against another person

summary judgement: a judgement decided by a trial court without that case going to trial; a summary judgement is an attempt to stop a case from going to trial

trial court: the local, state, or federal court that is the first to hear a civil or criminal case; involves a hearing and decision with a single judge, with or without a jury

verdict: a judgment

voir dire: the process of questioning potential member of a jury for a trial