Chapter 1
Administrative
agency
governmental body formed to carry out particular laws
Business ethics ethical principles used in making business decisions
Business law
group of laws that governs business situations and transactions
Case law
made when an appellate court endorses a rule to be used in deciding court cases
Civil
disobedience
open, peaceful violation of a law to protest its alleged injustice
Civil law
group of laws used to provide remedy for wrongs against individuals
Code
laws grouped into an organized form
Common law
law based on current standards or customs of the people
Consequencesbased
reasoning
form of ethical reasoning that evaluates the results of an action
Constitution
document that sets forth the framework of the government and its relationship to the people it governs
Constitutional
law
law made when the fundamental, supreme law of the land is adopted, amended, or interpreted
Criminal law
group of laws that defines and sets punishments for offenses against society
Defendant
party complained against in a civil or criminal lawsuit
Equity
basic fairness
Ethics
deciding what is right or wrong action in a reasoned, impartial manner
Fidelity bond
insurance policy that pays the employer money in the case of employees' theft
Impartiality
idea that the same ethical standards apply to everyone
Injunction
court order for a person to do or not do a particular act
Integrity
doing what is right even under pressure to act otherwise
Jurisdiction
power of a court to decide a case
Jury
panel of citizens sworn by a court to decide issues of fact in court cases
Laws
enforceable rules of conduct in a society
Ordinance
legislation enacted by a town, city, or county board or commission
Plaintiff
party that initiates a civil lawsuit by filing a complaint
Positive law
law based on the dictates of a central political authority
Procedural law
group of laws that define the methods for enforcing legal rights and duties
Stare decisis
doctrine that requires lower courts to follow existing case law in deciding similar cases
Statute
law enacted by state or federal legislatures
Substantive law group of laws that define rights and duties
Unconstitutional law that conflicts with a constitution and is therefore invalid
Uniform
Commercial
Code
widely adopted uniform business law
Universalizing
mental test to identify irrational, illogical, or demeaning actions