Dictionary of Law
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

civil rights :: legal definition


Civil rights - n. those rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, the 13th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution, including the right to due process, equal treatment under the law of all people regarding enjoyment of life, liberty, property, and protection. Positive civil rights include the right to vote, the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of a democratic society, such as equal access to public schools, recreation, transportation, public facilities, and housing, and equal and fair treatment by law enforcement and the courts.

See also: Bill of Rights civil civil liberties and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

admiralty :: n. concerning activities which occur at sea, inclu ... "proctors." See also: maritime law
adoption :: n. the taking of a child into one's family, creati ... the child are met. See also: adopt
American Civil Liberties Union :: n. a membership organization founded in 1920 to de ... rk, NY 10036; tel.: (212) 944-9800.
arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
Attorney General :: n. in each state and the federal government the hi ... izenry. See also: Solicitor General
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
blue sky laws :: n. laws intended to protect the public from purcha ... e sky." See also: corporation stock
civil :: adj. 1) that part of the law that encompasses busi ... also: civil liberties civil rights
civil law :: n. 1) a body of laws and legal concepts which come ... generic term for non-criminal law.
civil liberties :: n. rights or freedoms given to the people by the F ... nment. See also: civil civil rights
civil procedure :: n. the complex and often confusing body of rules a ... l civil action civil code civil law
color of law :: n. the appearance of an act being performed based ... xtort payoffs to forget the ticket.
community property :: n. property and profits received by a husband and ... and distribution separate property
confess :: v. in criminal law, to voluntarily state that one ... Miranda warning self-incrimination
constitution :: n. the fundamental, underlying document which esta ... ts common law constitutional rights
constitutional rights :: n. rights given or reserved to the people by the U ... e also: Bill of Rights constitution
copyright :: 1) n. the exclusive right of the author or creator ... plagiarism public domain trademark
corporation :: n. an organization formed with state governmental ... ation public corporation securities
discrimination :: n. unequal treatment of persons, for a reason whic ... qual rights. See also: civil rights
double jeopardy :: n. placing someone on trial a second time for an o ... that occurred thirty years earlier.
dower :: n. an old English common law right of a widow to o ... t and distribution widow's election
due process of law :: n. a fundamental principle of fairness in all lega ... procedural and substantive rights.
eminent domain :: n. the power of a governmental entity (federal, st ... ngs. See also: condemn condemnation
equal opportunity :: 1) n. a right supposedly guaranteed by both federa ... be so. See also: affirmative action
equal protection of the law :: n. the right of all persons to have the same acces ... laws." See also: due process of law
error :: n. a mistake by a judge in procedure or in substan ... or. See also: harmless error remand
franchise :: 1) n. a right granted by the government to a perso ... on property, income or profits tax.
fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud
incorporate :: v. 1) to obtain an official charter or articles of ... te by reference incorporation stock
interest :: n. 1) any and all, partial or total right to prope ... nal property real property standing
invasion of privacy :: n. the intrusion into the personal life of another ... randeis. See also: right to privacy
jeopardy :: n. peril, particularly danger of being charged wit ... ar Evers. See also: double jeopardy
joint :: adj., adv. referring to property, rights or obliga ... ncy joint venture tenancy in common
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
lineup :: n. a law enforcement method used in an attempt to ... entification is precarious at best.
literary property :: n. the writings of an author which entitles him/he ... as copyrighted. See also: copyright
Magna Carta :: n. Latin for "Great Charter," it was a document de ... s. It is also spelled Magna Charta.
malice :: n. a conscious, intentional wrongdoing either of a ... cution murder public figure slander
mandamus :: (man-dame-us) n. Latin for "we order," a writ (mor ... mandamus. See also: writ of mandate
martial law :: n. a system of complete control by a country's mil ... n and women. See also: military law
mortgage :: n. a document in which the owner pledges his/her/i ... losure notice of default trust deed
no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence
official misconduct :: n. improper and/or illegal acts by a public offici ... ty. See also: color of law official
patent :: 1) adj. obvious. Used in such expressions as a "pa ... patent infringement patent pending
possession :: n. 1) any article, object, asset or property which ... ctive possession. See also: possess
privacy :: n. the right to be free of unnecessary public scru ... lso: public figure right to privacy
procedure :: n. the methods and mechanics of the legal process. ... cases are tried and judgments made.
promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury
public domain :: n. 1) in copyright law, the right of anyone to use ... al governments. See also: copyright
public easement :: n. the right of the general public to use certain ... lso: easement prescriptive easement
public record :: n. any information, minutes, files, accounts or ot ... l judgment are both public records.
publication :: n. 1) anything made public by print (as in a news- ... so: defamation libel notice slander
real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion
regulations :: n. rules and administrative codes issued by govern ... es usually have similar procedures.
right :: 1) n. an entitlement to something, whether to conc ... e also: civil rights marital rights
state action :: n. in federal Civil Rights Acts, dating back to 18 ... for damages. See also: civil rights
substantive law :: n. law which establishes principles and creates an ... are conducted. See also: procedure
tenancy in common :: n. title to property (usually real property, but i ... on. See also: joint tenancy tenancy
tort :: n. from French for "wrong," a civil wrong or wrong ... nce slander trespass wrongful death

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - C

C.I.F. :: n. the total of cost, insurance and freight charge ... aid on goods purchased and shipped.
calendar :: 1) n. the list of cases to be called for trial bef ... clerk of the court calendars cases.
calendar call :: n. the hearing at which a case is set for trial. ... g at which a case is set for trial.
call :: n. the demand by a corporation that a stockholder ... assessment on shares already owned.
calumny :: n. the intentional and generally vicious false acc ... 's reputation. See also: defamation
cancel :: v. to cross out, annul, destroy, void and/or resci ... g, so that it cannot be used again.
cancellation :: cancel ... cancel
caning :: n. a punishment for crimes employed in certain Asi ... last century in the United States.
canon law :: n. laws and regulations over ecclesiastical (churc ... nduct with no religious connection.
cap :: n. slang for maximum, as the most interest that ca ... "adjustable rate" promissory note.
capital :: 1) n. from Latin for caput, meaning "head," the ba ... count capital assets stock in trade
capital account :: n. the record which lists all basic assets of a bu ... or the alleged value of good will.
capital assets :: n. equipment, property, and funds owned by a busin ... . See also: capital capital account
capital expenditure :: n. payment by a business for basic assets such as ... y intended to improve productivity.
capital gains :: n. the difference between the sales price and the ... so: basis delayed exchange exchange
capital investment :: capital expenditure ... capital expenditure
capital offense :: n. any criminal charge which is punishable by the ... . See also: bail capital punishment
capital punishment :: n. execution (death) for a capital offense. The U. ... or death. See also: capital offense
capital stock :: n. the original amount paid by investors into a co ... price. See also: corporation stock
capitalization :: n. 1) the act of counting anticipated earnings and ... for conversion into capital assets.