WORDS AND PHRASES YOU NEED TO KNOW

1. habeas corpus n law Lat (1. protection against unlimited imprisonment without charges 2. the right of someone in prison to appear in a court of law so that the court can decide whether they should stay in prison.)

A writ of habeas corpus n (a written order for a person to appear in court, most frequently to ensure that the party’s imprisonment or detention is not legal)

2. impose sth on/uponv (someone in authority imposes a rule, punishment, penalty, tax etc, they force people to accept it)

3. constable n (a police officer of the lowest rank)

4. accuse sb of (doing) sth v (to say that someone is guilty of a crime)

5. the authorities n (the people that are in charge of a particular area)

6. the juryn (a group of usually 12 people chosen to hear all the details of a case in a court of law and give their decision on it)

7. acquit v (give a decision that someone is not guilty of a crime)

8. custody n (when someone is kept in prison until they go to court, because the police think they have committed a crime)

Take sb into custody

9. warrant n (a written order signed by an official of the law, especially allowing the police to take certain action)

10. peace of the justice (= justice of he peace) n (a local judicial officer having jurisdiction over minor criminal offenses and minor civil disputes)

11. enforce v (to cause (a rule or law) to be obeyed or carried out effectively) (apply)

12. court n (a place where law is administered)

the court (the people, especially law officers and members of the jury, who are gathered together in a court to hear and judge a law case.)

A court of law

Bring a case to court

13. approve v (a bill) (to confirm authoritatively)

14. bill n (a legislative proposal offered for debate before its enactment)

Introduce a bill

Pass a bill

15. voten (the expression of one’s preference or opinion by ballotvotev the act of voting)

16. ‘recount n (a process of counting votes again) have a recount

re’count v

17. assent n (formal approval or agreement from someone who has authority)

royal assentn (the signing of a law by the British king or queen)

Reading notes:

Parliament the main law-making body, consisting of both the elected representatives of the people (the House of Commons) and the House ofLords.

Old Bailythe most famous law court in the UK, officially called the Central Criminal Court. It is a Crown court( =a court that deals with very serious crimes) in London, named after the street it is on. Many famous criminals have been judged there, including murderers and traitors (=someone who helps an enemy country). On the roof there is a statue of a woman that represents justice. Her eyes are covered to show that she does not give special treatment to anyone, and she is holding a sword in one hand and a pair of scales in the other, to show that the facts in cases will be judged fairly, and guilty people will by punished.

Newgate prisona prison in London from about 1200 to 1900, known for the terrible conditions in which the prisoners were forced to live and for holding some of the most famous criminals in British history.

house of correction = a prison. They sent him to a house of correction.

Lord Chancellor the most important official in the legal system of England and Wales. The Lord Chancellor gives legal advice to the King or Queen, chooses new judges, and decides whether or not a law needs to be changed. He is also the Speaker of the House of Lords and an important member of the UK government.

Date: 2016-01-14; view: 1261