Dictionary of Law
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discrimination :: legal definition


Discrimination - n. unequal treatment of persons, for a reason which has nothing to do with legal rights or ability. Federal and state laws prohibit discrimination in employment, availability of housing, rates of pay, right to promotion, educational opportunity, civil rights, and use of facilities based on race, nationality, creed, color, age, sex or sexual orientation. The rights to protest discrimination or enforce one's rights to equal treatment are provided in various federal and state laws, which allow for private lawsuits with the right to damages. There are also federal and state commissions to investigate and enforce equal rights.

See also: civil rights and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

administrative law :: n. the procedures created by administrative agenci ... judge Administrative Procedure Act
adoption :: n. the taking of a child into one's family, creati ... the child are met. See also: adopt
advisory opinion :: n. an opinion stated by a judge or a court upon th ... o: actual controversy friendly suit
American Civil Liberties Union :: n. a membership organization founded in 1920 to de ... rk, NY 10036; tel.: (212) 944-9800.
antitrust laws :: n. acts adopted by Congress to outlaw or restrict ... so: price fixing restraint of trade
appeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal."
arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
attorney :: n. 1) an agent or someone authorized to act for an ... ialize. See also: court reciprocity
Attorney General :: n. in each state and the federal government the hi ... izenry. See also: Solicitor General
bank :: n. 1) an officially chartered institution empowere ... erred to as "in bank" or "en banc."
bar examination :: n. the examination given in each state by either t ... n that district. See also: attorney
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
brief :: 1) n. a written legal argument, usually in a forma ... another person. See also: precedent
child custody :: n. a court's determination of which parent, relati ... pport custody divorce joint custody
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
civil rights :: n. those rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, ... ill of Rights civil civil liberties
claim :: 1) v. to make a demand for money, for property, or ... the government, it is lawsuit time.
color of law :: n. the appearance of an act being performed based ... xtort payoffs to forget the ticket.
comity :: n. when one court defers to the jurisdiction of an ... of cases to which comity may apply.
common law :: n. the traditional unwritten law of England, based ... plied without reference to statute.
community property :: n. property and profits received by a husband and ... and distribution separate property
concealed weapon :: n. a weapon, particularly a handgun, which is kept ... ions, arrests or improper activity.
confess :: v. in criminal law, to voluntarily state that one ... Miranda warning self-incrimination
conflict of law :: n. a situation in which both state and federal law ... y arose. See also: forum preemption
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
consumer protection laws :: n. almost all states and the federal government ha ... rranty product liability securities
controlling law :: n. the laws of the state which will be relied upon ... will be that of a particular state.
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
court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials.
demurrer :: n. (dee-muhr-ur) a written response to a complaint ... demurrer. See also: motion pleading
descent :: n. the rules of inheritance established by law in ... on inheritance intestate succession
diversity of citizenship :: n. when opposing parties in a lawsuit are citizens ... unt in controversy exceeds $10,000.
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.
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
equity :: n. 1) a venerable group of rights and procedures t ... ry enjoin equitable injunction writ
error :: n. a mistake by a judge in procedure or in substan ... or. See also: harmless error remand
fair trade laws :: n. state laws which permit manufacturers or produc ... state constitutions in many states.
fresh pursuit :: n. immediate chase of a suspected criminal by a la ... hot pursuit. See also: hot pursuit
full faith and credit :: n. the provision in Article IV, Section 1 of the U ... "foreign" (out-of-state) judgment.
grandfather clause :: n. 1) a clause in a statute or zoning ordinance (p ... Such laws are now unconstitutional.
guest statute :: n. a state law which sets standards of care by the ... sked to be let out. See also: guest
incorporate :: v. 1) to obtain an official charter or articles of ... te by reference incorporation stock
interstate commerce :: n. commercial trade, business, movement of goods o ... and the I.C.C. may soon be history.
jeopardy :: n. peril, particularly danger of being charged wit ... ar Evers. See also: double jeopardy
Jones Act :: n., adj. a federal law which covers injuries to cr ... ." See also: admiralty maritime law
judge :: 1) n. an official with the authority and responsib ... ice justice of the peace magistrate
jurisdiction :: n. the authority given by law to a court to try ca ... Superior Court Supreme Court venue
law :: n. 1) any system of regulations to govern the cond ... um maritime law natural law statute
law book :: n. any of numerous volumes dealing with law, inclu ... : common law law Shepardize statute
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
limited partnership :: n. a special type of partnership which is very com ... mited liability partner partnership
lineup :: n. a law enforcement method used in an attempt to ... entification is precarious at best.
Magna Carta :: n. Latin for "Great Charter," it was a document de ... s. It is also spelled Magna Charta.
mandamus :: (man-dame-us) n. Latin for "we order," a writ (mor ... mandamus. See also: writ of mandate
Mann Act :: n. a federal statute making it a crime to transpor ... is five years in a federal prison.
marriage :: n. the joining of a male and female in matrimony b ... of time without legal formalities.
marshal :: 1) n. a federal court official who may serve paper ... tablish priorities among creditors.
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
non-profit corporation :: n. an organization incorporated under state laws a ... harity corporation cy pres doctrine
occupy the field :: v. to preempt (monopolize) an area of statutory la ... ertain topics. See also: preemption
possession :: n. 1) any article, object, asset or property which ... ctive possession. See also: possess
preemption :: n. the rule of law that if the federal government ... cs control may parallel each other.
privileges and immunities :: n. the fundamental rights that people enjoy in fre ... t impinge on constitutional rights.
procedure :: n. the methods and mechanics of the legal process. ... cases are tried and judgments made.
public defender :: n. an elected or appointed public official (usuall ... to convicted indigents for appeals.
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.
reports :: n. the published decisions of appeals courts in al ... ilable in almost all law libraries.
right :: 1) n. an entitlement to something, whether to conc ... e also: civil rights marital rights
search warrant :: n. a written order by a judge which permits a law ... ble cause search search and seizure
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
separate property :: n. in community property states (California, Texas ... pouse. See also: community property
share :: n. 1) a portion of a benefit from a trust, estate, ... n issue of the corporation's stock.
sheriff :: n. the top law enforcement officer for a county, u ... ." See also: bailiff sheriff's sale
shield laws :: n. statutes enacted in some states which declare t ... See also: privileged communication
speedy trial :: n. in criminal prosecutions, the right of a defend ... hurt by the waiver. See also: trial
standing :: n. the right to file a lawsuit or file a petition ... so: actual controversy jurisdiction
state action :: n. in federal Civil Rights Acts, dating back to 18 ... for damages. See also: civil rights
statute :: n. a federal or state written law enacted by the C ... and proclamations are not statutes.
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
substantive law :: n. law which establishes principles and creates an ... are conducted. See also: procedure
supremacy clause :: n. Article VI, section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, ... f involving a constitutional issue.
Supreme Court :: n. 1) the highest court in the United States, whic ... rt in other states. See also: court
tax :: n. a governmental assessment (charge) upon propert ... unified estate and gift tax use tax
tenancy by the entirety :: n. joint ownership of title by husband and wife, i ... ee also: community property tenancy
tenancy in common :: n. title to property (usually real property, but i ... on. See also: joint tenancy tenancy
toll :: v. 1) to delay, suspend or hold off the effect of ... bridge or take passage on a ferry.
tort :: n. from French for "wrong," a civil wrong or wrong ... nce slander trespass wrongful death
waiver :: n. the intentional and voluntary giving up of some ... ssed on the record. See also: waive
warrant :: 1) n. an order (writ) of a court which directs a l ... e search and seizure search warrant

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 - D

D.A. :: n. slang for District Attorney. ... n. slang for District Attorney.
d.b.a. :: n. short for "doing business as," when a person or ... that is registered with the state.
D.U.I. :: n. short for driving under the influence of alcoho ... ing under the influence of alcohol.
D.W.I. :: n. 1) short for driving while intoxicated. 2) abbr ... for dying without issue (children).
damages :: n. the amount of money which a plaintiff (the pers ... liquidated damages special damages
dangerous :: adj. unsafe, hazardous, fraught with risk. It can ... eapon's range. See also: negligence
dangerous weapon :: n. any gun, knife, sword, crossbow, slingshot or o ... igence and possibly win a judgment.
date rape :: n. forcible sexual intercourse by a male acquainta ... physical resistance. See also: rape
day in court :: n. popular term for everyone's opportunity to brin ... rt to protest his speeding ticket."
de facto :: adj. Latin for "in fact." Often used in place of " ... ave not been met. See also: de jure
de facto corporation :: n. a company which operates as if it were a corpor ... also: de facto de jure ultra vires
de jure :: adj. Latin for "lawful," as distinguished from de ... also: de facto de jure corporation
de jure corporation :: n. a corporation in good standing under the law, a ... also: de facto corporation de jure
de minimis :: adj. (dee-minnie-miss) Latin for "of minimum impor ... deal, a $10 mistake is de minimis.
de novo :: adj. Latin for "anew," which means starting over, ... n, de novo. See also: trial de novo
deadly weapon :: n. any weapon which can kill. This includes not on ... See also: assault dangerous weapon
dealer :: n. anyone who buys goods or property for the purpo ... ins taxes by buying other property.
death penalty :: n. the sentence of execution for murder and some o ... rder and some other capital crimes.
death row :: n. nickname for that portion of a prison in which ... o: capital punishment death penalty
debenture :: n. a form of bond certificate issued by a corporat ... n shares of stock or general bonds.