Lobby
Attempt to influence government to benefit a particular group or organization
Substantive Law
The laws that outline your rights and obligations in society
Procedural Law
The legal processes involved in protecting our rights
Criminal Law
The body of public law that defines crimes and punishments
Constitutional Law
Outlines the structure and powers of the federal and provincial governments and addresses all issues concerning the Charter
Administrative Law
Outlines the relationship between citizens and government bodies
Public Law
Controls the relationships between individuals and the state
Private Law
Outlines the relationship between private individuals and organizations
Civil Law
The private law governing the relationships between individuals
Plaintiff
The person suing in a civil action
Defendant
In civil law, the person who is being sued; in criminal law, the person charged with an offence
Tort Law
The area of law dealing with damages caused by a person or organization
Family Law
The area of law that regulates aspects of family life
Contract Law
Outlines the requirements for legally binding agreements and remedies if the agreement is breached
Property Law
Outlines the rights and responsibilities of owning, acquiring, and maintaining property
Labour and Employment Law
Labour law governs the relationships between employers and unions; employment law governs the relationship between employers and employees
Codification
The process of assembling a system of laws into a body of statutes
Code of Hammurabi
One of the earliest known sets of written laws, recorded by King Hammurabi of Babylon in 1750 BCE
Retribution
A deserved punishment for a wrong
Restitution
The act of making good, restoring, or compensating a person for a wrong that was done to him or her
Feudal System
A political, social, and economic system prevalent in Europe between the ninth and fifteenth centuries
Case Law
Recorded written decisions of judges; also known as common law
Common Law
A system of law based on past legal decisions; also known as case law
Precedent
A legal decision that serves as an example and authority in subsequent similar cases
Appeal
Referring a case to a higher court to reconsider the lower court's decision
Citation
The reference for a legal case
Rule of Law
The fundamental principle that the law applies equally to all persons
Habeas Corpus
A document that requires a person to be brought to court to determine if he or she is being legally detained
Statute
A law passed by a legislative body
Civil Rights
The rights of citizens that limit the power of governments
Amending Formula
The procedure to change (amend) Canada's Constitution
Patriation
The process of bringing legislation back under the legal authority of the country to which it applies
Jurisdiction
Authority to do something, such as make laws
Bill
A proposed law; a draft form of an act or statute
