Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL - Law and Order

Here you will learn some English words about law and order, such as "justice", "bill", "clause", etc. that are needed for the TOEFL exam.

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justice

[noun]

a behavior or treatment that is fair and just

Ex: They believed that true justice could only be achieved through reforms in the legal system .

constitution

[noun]

the official laws and principles by which a country or state is governed

Ex: The constitution of South Africa , adopted in 1996 , enshrines the principles of equality and human dignity as core values of the nation .

bill

[noun]

a new law that is proposed to a parliament to be discussed about

Ex: The bill was delayed in the legislative process due to disagreements among committee members .

clause

[noun]

a separate part of a legal document that requires or talks about something specific

Ex: The constitution contains a freedom of speech clause that protects individuals ' rights to express themselves without censorship from the government .

statute

[noun]

an officially written and established law

Ex: Under the statute, the company must provide annual safety training for employees .

act

[noun]

a law that is passed by a parliament or congress

Ex: The civil rights act was a significant milestone in the fight for equality and justice .

legislative

[Adjective]

relating to the making and passing of laws by government bodies

Ex: The legislative process typically involves multiple stages , including committee review , floor debate , and final vote .

legislation

[noun]

a law or a set of laws passed by a legislative body, such as a parliament

attorney

[noun]

a lawyer who represents someone in a court of law

Ex: The attorney advised her on the best course of action for the lawsuit .

to pass

[Verb]

to make or accept a law by voting or by decree

Ex: The United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution asking the two countries to resume peace negotiations .

declaration

[noun]

(law) an official written document that people sign to agree on something or accept something as true

Ex: The company issued a declaration of compliance with industry standards to assure consumers of their product 's safety .

hearing

[noun]

(law) an official gathering in a court of law, especially without the presence of the jury, to find out information about a case and listen to evidence

Ex: The judge called for a competency hearing to determine if the defendant was fit to stand trial .

judicial

[Adjective]

belonging or appropriate for a court, a judge, or the administration of justice

Ex: Lawyers play a crucial role in presenting arguments and evidence before the judicial authorities .

legitimate

[Adjective]

officially allowed or accepted according to the rules or laws that apply to a particular situation

Ex: The agreement was negotiated and signed under legitimate terms and conditions .

plea

[noun]

(law) a formal statement made by someone confirming or denying their accusation

Ex: The defense attorney argued for a reduction in charges based on the plea bargain negotiated with the prosecution.

to prosecute

[Verb]

to try to charge someone officially with a crime in a court as the lawyer of the accuser

Ex: He hired an expert to help prosecute the case , ensuring every legal angle was covered .

representation

[noun]

the state of being represented or the act of representing

authority

[noun]

(usually plural) people with decision-making power over a specific area in a country

ruling

[noun]

a decision made by someone with official power, particularly a judge

Ex: The school board 's ruling to implement a new dress code policy sparked controversy among parents and students .

to sentence

[Verb]

to officially state the punishment of someone found guilty in a court of law

Ex: After the trial , the judge carefully sentenced the convicted murderer .

to testify

[Verb]

to make a statement as a witness in court saying something is true

Ex: The court relies on witnesses who are willing to testify truthfully for a fair trial .

testimony

[noun]

a formal statement saying something is true, particularly made by a witness in court

Ex: The defense attorney cross-examined the witness to challenge the credibility of their testimony.

witness

[noun]

(law) a person who testifies under oath in a court of law

evidence

[noun]

anything that proves the truth or possibility of something, such as facts, objects, or signs

Ex: Historical documents and artifacts serve as valuable evidence for understanding past civilizations and events .

trial

[noun]

a legal process where a judge and jury examine evidence in court to decide if the accused is guilty

Ex: The lawyer prepared extensively for the trial, gathering all necessary documents and witness statements .

verdict

[noun]

an official decision made by the jury in a court after the legal proceedings

Ex: The media reported on the landmark verdict that set a new precedent in criminal law .

bail

[noun]

an amount of money that must be paid in order for someone who is accused of a crime to be released until their trial

Ex: The suspect's family rallied together to raise money for his bail bond.

to appeal

[Verb]

to officially ask a higher court to review and reverse the decision made by a lower court

Ex: The defendant decided to appeal the verdict of the lower court in hopes of receiving a more favorable outcome .

defendant

[noun]

a person in a law court who is sued by someone else or is accused of committing a crime

Ex: The defendant remained composed throughout the trial , maintaining innocence despite the prosecution 's strong arguments .

draft

[noun]

an unfinished version of something written that might be subject to change before it is finished

to charge

[Verb]

to officially accuse someone of an offense

Ex: Right now , the legal team is charging individuals involved in the corruption scandal .

action

[noun]

a formal or legal process in which it is decided if someone has done something wrong or illegal

Ex: The plaintiff initiated legal action to seek damages for the harm done.

lawsuit

[noun]

a complaint or claim that someone brings to a law court for settlement

Ex: The lawsuit dragged on for years , causing financial strain on both parties involved .

to sue

[Verb]

to bring a charge against an individual or organization in a law court

Ex: Last year , the author successfully sued the competitor for plagiarism .

proceedings

[noun]

actions taken in a court of law in order to settle an argument

Ex: The proceedings were marked by intense arguments between the opposing counsels .

sheriff

[noun]

an elected officer of law in a county

Ex: He served as sheriff for over two decades , earning the respect of the local community .

inspector

[noun]

a police officer holding an intermediate rank

Ex: Inspector Johnson was commended for his diligent work in uncovering corruption within the department.

Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL

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Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL - Law and Order