Essential Legal Terms & US Federalism Explained

Key Legal Terms Defined

Allegation:

A claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong.

Fugitive:

A person who has escaped from custody or is in hiding to avoid arrest.

Appeal:

A legal proceeding before a judge or other decision-making body.

Custody:

The legal control or guardianship of someone or something, often implying parental control.

Jurisdiction:

The authority of a court or legal body to hear and decide cases within a specific area.

Appellate:

Related to appeals in higher courts; reviews decisions.

Death Sentence:

A legal order authorizing the execution of a person.

Expropriation:

The act of a government taking private property for public use.

Felony:

A serious crime, such as murder or burglary, typically punishable by imprisonment for more than one year.

Affidavit:

A written statement sworn to be true, usually signed under oath before a notary public.

Alibi:

A defense claim that the accused was somewhere else when a crime was committed.

Alimony:

Financial support one spouse must pay to the other after divorce.

Arrest:

The act of detaining someone by legal authority for allegedly committing a crime.

Arrest Warrant:

A legal document issued by a judge authorizing the police to arrest a person.

Barrister:

A lawyer (especially in the UK and some other countries).

Case:

A legal dispute brought before a court for resolution.

Charge:

A formal accusation made by legal authority that someone has committed a crime.

Confession:

A voluntary admission of guilt regarding a crime.

Courtroom:

The designated space in a courthouse where legal proceedings occur.

Conviction:

A formal decision by a court declaring someone guilty of a crime.

Fine:

A monetary penalty imposed as punishment for a crime or infraction.

Witnesses:

People who provide testimony or evidence in a legal case based on what they saw.

Opening Arguments:

The initial statements made by attorneys in a trial outlining their case.

Evidence:

Material or information presented in court to support or refute a claim or charge.

Deliberation and Verdict:

The process where a jury discusses the case in private to reach a decision.

Understanding Federalism in the US

Federalism is the constitutional division of power between the U.S. national government and the state governments. It defines which powers belong to the federal government, which to the states, and which are shared.

Key Powers in Federalism

• Federal Government Powers: Declare war, coin money, regulate interstate and foreign trade.
• State Government Powers: Conduct elections, issue marriage licenses, ratify amendments.

Additionally, the Supremacy Clause states that federal laws are the supreme law of the land and take precedence over state laws.