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Most Popular Legal Definitions

fiat

A shortly-worded court order.

clear and present danger

The doctrine established in an opinion written by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. in Schenk vs. United States (1919) which is used to determine if a situation creates a threat to the public, individual citizens or to the nation. If so, limits can be placed on First Amendment freedoms of speech, press or assembly.

agreement

1) meeting of the minds 2) another name for a contract--including all the elements of a legal contract: offer, acceptance, and consideration (payment or performance) based on specific terms

pension

A private or government fund, from which regular benefits and stipends are paid to a person upon their retirement or disability.

just spatiandi et manendi

Latin, referring to a legal right of way granted to the public, but only for the purposes of recreation or education, such as upon parks or public squares.

tenant

A person to whom a landlord grants temporary and exclusive use of land or a part of a building, usually in exchange for rent.

search warrant

A written order by a judge which permits a law enforcement officer to search another's premises for evidence of criminal activity.

venire

The list from which jurors may be selected.

Zone or zoning

The area of

adjusted basis

the original cost of an asset adjusted for costs of improvements, depreciation, damage, and other events which may have affected its value during the period of ownership; this is important in calculating capital gains for income tax purposes since the adjusted basis is generally higher than the original price and will lower capital gains taxes