Terms : Hide Images
| 24327995 | popular sovereignty | The concept that political power rests with the people who can create, alter, and abolish government. people express themselves through voting and free participation in government. | |
| 24327996 | limited government | a government structure where its functions and powers are prescribed, limited, and restricted by law, usually in a written constitution. Related concepts are libertarianism and laissez faire economics. | |
| 24327997 | fundamental law | Laws of basic and lasting importance which may not easily be changed. | |
| 24327998 | initiative | a citizen petition to place a proposal or constitutional amendment on the ballot, to be adopted or rejected by majority vote, bypassing the legislature. | |
| 24327999 | statutory law | the body of laws created by legislative statutes. | |
| 24328000 | police power | the ability of a government to protect its citizens and maintain social order. | |
| 24328001 | constituent power | the non-legislative power of constitution-making and the constitutional amendment process. | |
| 24328002 | recall | the act of removing an official by petition. | |
| 24328003 | item veto | the power to reject particular parts, or items, of a bill. | |
| 24328004 | clemency | leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice. | |
| 24328005 | pardon | the act of excusing a mistake or offense. | |
| 24328006 | commutation | a warrant substituting a lesser punishment for a greater one. | |
| 24328007 | reprieve | postpone the punishment of a convicted criminal, such as an execution. | |
| 24328008 | parole | When a governor grants an early release from prison, with certain restrictions. | |
| 24328009 | common law | what everyone accepts to be against the law; law of the land; not always written down. | |
| 24328010 | precedent | an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time. | |
| 24328011 | felony | One of the highest class of offenses, and punishable with death or imprisonment. | |
| 24328012 | misdemeanor | a crime less serious than a felony. | |
| 24328013 | civil law | Body of law dealing with private rights of individuals. | |
| 24328014 | jury | a body of citizens sworn to give a true verdict according to the evidence presented in a court of law. | |
| 24328015 | bench trial | A trial without a jury, in which the judge serves as the fact-finder. | |
| 24328016 | justice of the peace | a local magistrate with limited powers. | |
| 24328017 | warrant | a writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts. | |
| 24328018 | preliminary hearing | when the prosecuting attorney shows the judge that there is enough evidence to move on. | |
| 24328019 | magistrate | a public official authorized to decide questions bought before a court of justice. | |
| 24328020 | appellate jurisdiction | The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts. | |
| 24328021 | referendum | established a procedure by which voters cast ballots for or against proposed laws. |
