Us Government Chapter 14 Political Dictionary

Section 1

Due Process – A constitutional protection that prevents the government from depriving individuals of their rights and freedoms without following established legal procedures.

Procedural Due Process – The principle that the law must be applied fairly and evenly to all people, using established rules and procedures.

Substantive Due Process – The principle that a law must be fair and reasonable. The right to substantive due process requires a court to consider the fairness of the law itself.

Police Power – The power of a government to use force if necessary to control affairs within its jurisdiction in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens.

Search Warrant – A written authorization issued by a judge to allow law enforcement authorities to search a person’s property for specified items and to seize those items if they are found.

Probable Cause – Reasonable grounds to accuse an individual of committing a specific crime.

Exclusionary Rule – A Supreme Court precedent establishing that illegally obtained evidence may not be used in a criminal trial.

Section 2

Presentment – A formal statement issued by a grand jury to authorize a trial for someone accused of a crime.

Miranda Rule – An arresting officer’s requirement to inform criminal suspects of their rights before questioning.

Section 3

Change of Venue – The movement of a trial to a court in a different geographic location.

Bench Trial – A trial in which a judge, rather than a jury, decides an issue.

Double Jeopardy – Trying someone more than once for the same criminal offense. The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution prohibits double jeopardy, but this protection is not absolute. If a mistrial has occurred because of some procedural error or if a deadlocked jury cannot reach a verdict, the prosecution may retry the accused.