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
Founded: 148
treasury stock :: n. stock of a private corporation which was issued ... be entitled. See also: share stock
stock :: 1) n. inventory (goods) of a business meant for sa ... siness. See also: share shareholder
preferred stock :: n. a class of shares of stock in a corporation whi ... on stock corporation dividend stock
unissued stock :: n. a corporation's shares of stock which are autho ... poration share stock treasury stock
capital stock :: n. the original amount paid by investors into a co ... price. See also: corporation stock
promotional stock :: n. stock issued in a newly formed corporation and ... assets or money. See also: promoter
subchapter S corporation :: n. the choice by a small corporation to be treated ... ing attorney. See also: corporation
corporation :: n. an organization formed with state governmental ... ation public corporation securities
common stock :: n. stock in a corporation in which dividends (payo ... oration preferred stock share stock
no-par stock :: n. shares in a corporation which are issued withou ... re stated on the stock certificate.
articles of incorporation :: n. the basic charter of a corporation which spells ... year's taxes. See also: corporation
stock certificate :: n. printed document which states the name, incorpo ... . See also: corporation share stock
watered stock :: n. shares of stock of a corporation which have bee ... . See also: corporation share stock
stock option :: n. the right to purchase stock in the future at a ... hares. See also: option share stock
quasi corporation :: n. a business which has operated as a corporation ... poration de facto corporation quasi
public corporation :: n. a corporation created to perform a governmental ... or hospital. See also: corporation
de jure corporation :: n. a corporation in good standing under the law, a ... also: de facto corporation de jure
public benefit corporation :: n. a term used in some states for a nonprofit comm ... ts and Lions. See also: corporation
foreign corporation :: n. a corporation which is incorporated under the l ... tate or Whoopee's designated agent.
non-profit corporation :: n. an organization incorporated under state laws a ... harity corporation cy pres doctrine
offshore corporation :: n. a corporation chartered under the laws of a cou ... nds in accounts out of the country.
incorporation :: n. the act of incorporating an organization. See a ... . See also: corporation incorporate
professional corporation :: n. a corporation formed for the purpose of conduct ... rofessionals. See also: corporation
dissolution of corporation :: n. termination of a corporation, either a) volunta ... e government. See also: corporation
de facto corporation :: n. a company which operates as if it were a corpor ... also: de facto de jure ultra vires
stockholder :: n. shareholder in a corporation. See also: shareho ... corporation. See also: shareholder
close corporation :: n. a corporation which is permitted by state law t ... mily members. See also: corporation
certificate of incorporation :: n. document which some states issue to prove a cor ... the articles are sufficient proof.
blue sky laws :: n. laws intended to protect the public from purcha ... e sky." See also: corporation stock
issue :: 1) n. a person's children or other lineal descenda ... the body incorporation share stock
incorporate :: v. 1) to obtain an official charter or articles of ... te by reference incorporation stock
holding company :: n. a company, usually a corporation, which is crea ... gement and policies of all of them.
preferred dividend :: n. a payment of a corporation's profits to holders ... of stock. See also: preferred stock
share :: n. 1) a portion of a benefit from a trust, estate, ... n issue of the corporation's stock.
preemptive right :: n. the right of a shareholder in a corporation to ... also: corporation shareholder stock
pierce the corporate veil :: v. to prove that a corporation exists merely as a ... ling with it. See also: corporation
limited partnership :: n. a special type of partnership which is very com ... mited liability partner partnership
shareholder :: n. the owner of one or more shares of stock in a c ... : corporation shareholders' meeting
stock in trade :: n. the inventory of merchandise held for sale. ... ntory of merchandise held for sale.
stockholders' derivative action :: n. See also: derivative action shareholders' deriv ... ion shareholders' derivative action
par :: n. 1) an equal level. 2) the face value of a stock ... common stock preferred stock stock
voting trust :: n. a trust which solicits vote proxies of sharehol ... ation proxy shareholder stockholder
book value :: n. a determination of the value of a corporation's ... ssets may be under- or over-valued.
meeting of the minds :: n. when two parties to an agreement (contract) bot ... eant his cattle. See also: contract
limited liability :: n. the maximum amount a person participating in a ... ted damages partnership shareholder
bylaws :: n. the written rules for conduct of a corporation, ... d/or amended. See also: corporation
underwrite :: v. 1) to agree to pay an obligation which may aris ... antee guarantor insurer underwriter
debenture :: n. a form of bond certificate issued by a corporat ... n shares of stock or general bonds.
ultra vires :: (uhl-trah veye-rehz) adj. Latin for "beyond powers ... it is issued. See also: corporation
transfer agent :: n. a person or company retained by a corporation t ... stockbroker. See also: share stock
reorganization :: n. the implementation of a business plan to restru ... also: bankruptcy corporation merger
corporate opportunity :: n. a business opportunity which becomes known to a ... ative action fiduciary relationship
self-dealing :: n. in the stock market, using secret "inside" info ... ederal Securities and Exchange Act.
derivative action :: n. a lawsuit brought by a corporation shareholder ... on director shareholder stockholder
capital :: 1) n. from Latin for caput, meaning "head," the ba ... count capital assets stock in trade
promoter :: n. a person who puts together a business, particul ... y effort and not by assets or cash.
securities :: n. generic term for shares of stock, bonds and deb ... ee also: bond debenture share stock
call :: n. the demand by a corporation that a stockholder ... assessment on shares already owned.
registration statement :: n. a detailed report to be filed with the Securiti ... See also: blue sky laws prospectus
prospectus :: n. a detailed statement by a corporation required ... rporation limited partnership stock
dividend :: n. a portion of profit, usually based on the numbe ... . See also: corporation shareholder
wind up :: v. to liquidate (sell or dispose of) assets of a c ... r partnership. See also: winding up
subpena duces tecum :: : (suh-pea-nah dooh-chess-take-uhm or dooh-kess-ta ... ng a court order. See also: witness
syndicate :: n. a joint venture among individuals and/or corpor ... l dissolve. See also: joint venture
bucket shop :: n. an unofficial and usually illegal betting opera ... the stock and commodities markets.
intangible property :: n. items such as stock in a company which represen ... t are not actual, tangible objects.
letters of administration :: n. a document issued by the court clerk which stat ... estate. See also: executor probate
letters testamentary :: n. a document issued by the court clerk which stat ... te. See also: administrator probate
insider trading :: n. the use of confidential information about a bus ... o catch insiders. See also: insider
insider :: n. someone who has a position in a business or sto ... ange Act. See also: insider trading
in kind :: adj. referring to payment, distribution or substit ... . See also: distribution trust will
income :: n. money, goods or other economic benefit received ... ernment and most state governments.
malum prohibitum :: (mal-uhm prohibit-uhm) adj. Latin meaning "wrong d ... lso: malum in se white collar crime
passive :: adj. referring to being inactive. A "passive trust ... ment and interest on bank accounts.
survivorship :: n. the right to receive full title or ownership du ... onvenience. See also: joint tenancy
white collar crime :: n. a generic term for crimes involving commercial ... committed by "blue collar" workers.
subscribe :: v. 1) to sign at the end of a document. The courts ... r periodical magazine or newspaper.
share and share alike :: adj. referring to the equal division of a benefit ... among the three surviving nephews.
proxy :: n. 1) someone who is authorized to serve in one's ... d members and convention delegates.
robbery :: n. 1) the direct taking of property (including mon ... We've been robbed." See also: theft
guardian :: n. a person who has been appointed by a judge to t ... torship. See also: conservator ward
forgery :: n. 1) the crime of creating a false document, alte ... See also: counterfeit forger fraud
broker :: n. in general, a person who arranges contracts bet ... security ("hocked") at high rates.
bulk sale :: n. the sale of all or a large part of a merchant's ... entories. See also: bulk sales acts
bribery :: n. the crime of giving or taking money or some oth ... s which are against company policy.
bond :: n. 1) written evidence of debt issued by a company ... good up to the amount of the bond.
American Depository Receipt :: n. called in the banking trade an ADR, it is a rec ... ding the foreign shares themselves.
boiler room :: n. a telephone bank operation in which fast-talkin ... and in violation of security laws.
buy-sell agreement :: n. a contract among the owners of a business which ... older's interest in the enterprise.
cease and desist order :: n. an order of a court or government agency to a p ... ing which would damage the ecology.
face value :: n. in shares of stock, the original cost of the st ... on the certificate, or "par value."
fiduciary :: 1) n. from the Latin fiducia, meaning "trust," a p ... lation fiduciary relationship trust
exemplary damages :: n. often called punitive damages, these are damage ... See also: damages punitive damages
confidential relation :: n. a relationship in which one person has confiden ... remely obvious. See also: fiduciary
churning :: n. the unethical and usually illegal practice of e ... f obtaining high sales commissions.
clerk :: n. 1) an official or employee who handles the busi ... stocking shelves, or counter sales.
winding up :: n. liquidating the assets of a corporation or part ... ration cy pres doctrine partnership
principal place of business :: n. location of head office of a business where the ... business to the Secretary of State.
cumulative voting :: n. in corporations, a system of voting by sharehol ... eholders with 1,001 or more shares.
d.b.a. :: n. short for "doing business as," when a person or ... that is registered with the state.
cooperative housing :: n. an arrangement in which an association or corpo ... common area condominium cooperative
consent decree :: n. an order of a judge based upon an agreement, al ... he same. See also: consent judgment
company :: n. any formal business entity for profit, which ma ... s a corporation. See also: business
de jure :: adj. Latin for "lawful," as distinguished from de ... also: de facto de jure corporation
declaratory judgment :: n. a judgment of a court which determines the righ ... ys it. See also: declaratory relief
diversity of citizenship :: n. when opposing parties in a lawsuit are citizens ... unt in controversy exceeds $10,000.
distribution :: n. the act of dividing up the assets of an estate ... p percentages. See also: distribute
distribute :: v. 1) the dividing up of those assets of an estate ... and distribution probate trust will
director :: n. a member of the governing board of a corporatio ... lso: board of directors corporation
code :: n. a collection of written laws gathered together, ... utes or laws. See also: law statute
charter :: n. the name for articles of incorporation in some ... rate charter. See also: corporation
Attorney General :: n. in each state and the federal government the hi ... izenry. See also: Solicitor General
authority :: n. permission, a right coupled with the power to d ... rize ostensible authority principal
association :: n. any group of people who have joined together fo ... ed, although technically redundant.
article :: n. a paragraph or section of any writing such as e ... or different sections of a statute.
alter ego :: n. a corporation, organization or other entity set ... See also: pierce the corporate veil
bank :: n. 1) an officially chartered institution empowere ... erred to as "in bank" or "en banc."
bias :: n. the predisposition of a judge, arbitrator, pros ... ire. See also: hometowned voir dire
charity :: n. 1) in general the sentiment of benevolence, doi ... . See also: charitable contribution
cartel :: n. 1) an arrangement among supposedly independent ... Colombia. See also: antitrust laws
business :: n. any activity or enterprise entered into for pro ... pleasure or no particular purpose.
board of directors :: n. the policy managers of a corporation or organiz ... he expertise. See also: corporation
doing business :: v. carrying on the normal activities of a corporat ... oration operating within the state.
entity :: n. a general term for any institution, company, co ... is distinguished from individuals.
register :: n. in corporations, the record of shareholders, an ... corporation. See also: corporation
residence :: n. 1) the place where one makes his/her home. Howe ... f incorporation. See also: resident
records :: n. in business, particularly corporations, all the ... s to the "records" of the business.
quo warranto :: (kwoh wahr-rahn-toe) n. the name for a writ (order ... ticles). See also: corporation writ
agent for acceptance of service :: n. states require that a corporation name an actua ... corporations. See also: corporation
resolution :: n. a determination of policy of a corporation by t ... nactment of statutes or ordinances.
seal :: n. a device which creates an impression upon paper ... e "sealed," but that is rare today.
sole proprietorship :: n. a business owned by one person, as distinguishe ... from a partnership or corporation.
shareholders' meeting :: n. a meeting, usually annual, of all shareholders ... ctors corporation proxy shareholder
shareholders' derivative action :: n. a lawsuit by a corporation's shareholders, theo ... gement. See also: derivative action
shareholders' agreement :: n. an employment agreement among the shareholders ... re only three or four shareholders.
person :: n. 1) a human being. 2) a corporation treated as h ... amages. See also: corporation party
official :: 1) adj. referring to an act, document or anything ... tion or business. See also: officer
general counsel :: n. the chief attorney for a corporation, who is pa ... e counsel." See also: house counsel
franchise tax :: n. a state tax on corporations or businesses. See ... sinesses. See also: corporation tax
franchise :: 1) n. a right granted by the government to a perso ... on property, income or profits tax.
ex officio :: a (ex oh-fish-ee-oh)dj. Latin for "from the office ... ne is president of the corporation.
leasehold :: n. the real estate which is the subject of a lease ... sehold. See also: condominium lease
mercantile law :: n. that broad area of the law (also called commerc ... tion seller Uniform Commercial Code
officer :: n. 1) a high-level management official of a corpor ... deputy sheriff or federal marshal.
natural person :: n. a real human being, as distinguished from a cor ... ated at law as a fictitious person.
minutes :: n. 1) the written record of meetings, particularly ... court reporter if recorded at all.
merger :: n. 1) in corporate law, the joining together of tw ... and taking one, and wife the other.
state of domicile :: n. the state in which a person has his/her permane ... orated. See also: domicile resident