Across
- 5. The branch of law dealing with crimes and their punishment
- 6. A criminal offense, less serious than a felony, punishable by a prison sentence of one year or less
- 7. A basic principle of our constitutional system. It limits government to powers provided to it by the people.
- 8. the state or federal government's attorney in a criminal case
- 10. A legal way of making a provision less enforceable than it might be otherwise
- 11. The process by which courts decide whether the laws passed by Congress or state legislatures are constitutional
- 12. A serious criminal offense punishable by a prison sentence of more than one year
- 15. Conflicting with some provision of the Constitution
- 17. A noncriminal lawsuit, brought to enforce a right or redress a wrong
- 19. A court in which appeals from trial court decisions are heard
- 20. Written laws enacted by legislatures
- 22. The legal process in which one country or state asks another to surrender a suspected or convicted criminal
- 23. Proceedings that are open to the public. During these proceedings, evidence is considered and then a decision is reached based on this evidence.
- 24. In a civil case, the injured party who brings the legal action against the alleged wrongdoer
- 27. All law that does not involve criminal matters, such as tort and contract law. Civil law usually deals with private rights of individuals, groups, or businesses.
- 28. The level of proof required to convict a person of a crime. It does not mean "convinced 100 percent," but does mean there are no reasonable doubts as to guilt.
- 29. Usually the standard of proof used in a civil suit; the burden of proof that a party must meet in order to win the lawsuit. To win, a party must provide evidence that is more convincing than the other side's evidence.
- 30. The provision in Article VI of the Constitution stating that U.S. laws and treaties must be followed even if state and local laws disagree with the Constitution and these treaties.
Down
- 1. Prohibit; in government, the power of the chief executive to prevent the enactment of a bill
- 2. The division of powers between the states and the federal government.
- 3. A proposed law being considered by a legislature
- 4. The person against whom a claim is made. In a civil suit, the defendant is the person being sued; in a criminal case, the defendant is the person charged with committing a crime.
- 5. The power of each of the three branches of government (legislative, judicial, executive) to limit the other branches' power, so as to prevent an abuse.
- 9. Court decision on a legal question that guides decisions in future cases presenting similar questions
- 13. A county or city law
- 14. The division among the branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial). statutes Written laws enacted by legislatures
- 16. 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 Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, to become effective
- 18. 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.
- 21. A court proceeding
- 25. The first ten amendments to the Constitution, which guarantees basic individual rights to all persons in the United States
- 26. Basic privileges a person as a human being