Term Definition
ABRIDGE Shorten.
ABRIDGEMENT Reduced version of the original.
ADVOCATE Defend and support something; offer legal assistance.
AFFIRM Declare something is TRUE; to support a decision from a lower court.
AFFIRMATIVE Agree with or accept.
ANTI­SEMITIC Hostility directed against Jews.
ASCEND Rise.
CAPITAL OFFENSE Crime punishable by the death penalty.
CERTIORARI Written order from an appellate court for the lower court to send the appeals court the records of a case.
COMPELLING Convincing.
CONGRESSIONAL Power given to the Senate and House of Representatives to
POWER create and enact laws.
CONTEMPT OF COURT Disobedience or disrespect of a court, judge, or legislative body.
CONTRARY Opposing or opposite view.
CURRICULUM Educational plan which outlines subject matter to be taught in school.
DEROGATORY Belittling or making fun of something or someone.
DESCEND Go down from a high degree.
DIGNIFIED Having character; often admired.
DISCRIMINATION Act of not treating everyone alike, because of their social or economic class, or race.
DOCTRINE Principle of law established through past decisions.
DUE PROCESS Constitutional right which guarantees everyone fair treatment by the law.
EMPHATICALLY Said or done with emphasis.
EQUIVALENT Divided in same amounts.
ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE Found in First Amendment. Denies Congress the right to make laws respecting any religion.
EXCLUDE Shut out.
EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE Privileges and powers granted to the President of the United States.
EXORBITANT Going beyond what is expected; excessive.
EX PARTE An action brought by one person without opposition.
IMMIGRANT Someone who is not a native.
INADMISSIBLE Not allowed in.
INCRIMINATING That which indicates guilt.
INFERIOR Not as good.
INFRINGEMENT Violation of a law, regulation, or right.
INHERENTLY UNEQUAL Existing only to be unequal.
INJUNCTION Legal process issued by a court requiring a person to refrain from doing, or from continuing to do, a certain act.
INSUBORDINATE Unwilling to submit to authority.
INTERROGATED To be asked questions.
INTERSTATE Between two or more states.
INTRASTATE COMMERCE Commerce within a state.
JUDICIAL REVIEW Review of proceedings that have taken place in a court.
LIBEL Any false written statement tending to ruin a reputation.
MONOPOLY Commodity completely controlled by a person or group of persons.
MUTINY Revolt against someone or something of authority.
NATIONALISM A love and pride of one's country.
NON­DENOMINATIONAL No religious affiliation.
OBSTRUCTING Blocking or hindering.
PERMISSIBLE Permitted or allowed.
PETTY LARCENY Taking of property of small value; usually a misdemeanor.
REASONABLENESS Neither extreme nor excessive.
RESTRAINTS Limitations; holding back from action.
SABOTAGE Willful destruction of war or national defense material.
SEGREGATION Separation of races.
SEPARATE BUT EQUAL Phrase which implied that it was acceptable to segregate races provided that the races are treated equally.
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE Guidelines set up to keep religion out of government and insure equal treatment of the people.
SOCIALISM Economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership of the means of production.
STATUTE Law enacted by the legislative branch of the government.
SUBORDINATE Place in a lower class or rank.
SUBSTANTIAL Solid; firm; having real properties.
SUBSTANTIVE Having a real existence; actual.
SUBSTANTIVE DUE PROCESS Freedoms, legal process, and equal opportunity guaranteed all persons in the United States.
SUPPRESSION Act of holding back.
TANGIBLE Having physical form; can be touched and seen.
TREASON Act committed against one's country.
TRIVIAL Of little worth.
UNANIMOUSLY Everyone agreeing.
UN­CONSTITUTIONAL That which is in violation of a law or right stated in the Constitution of the United States.
UNITARY Having to do with a single thing.
VAGUE Unclear.
WRIT Formal document.
WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS Document obtained by a lawyer demanding a defendant be formally charged or released from arrest.


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