A Latin term meaning literally 'from [the] stronger'. Translated into English and used in the particular context of legal writing, the term often means 'from [the] stronger [argument]'. If a particular fact is true, then one can infer that a...
legal theory
A fortiori
Definition
A priori
Definition
A Latin term meaning "from what comes before." In legal arguments, a priori generally means that a particular idea is taken as a given.
Ab initio
Definition
A Latin term meaning "from the beginning." Used to indicate that some fact existed from the start of a relevant time period.
Arguendo
A Latin term meaning "in arguing" or "for the sake of argument". When one assumes something arguendo, the person is asserting a hypothetical or other statement for the purpose of argument.
Argument
An argument is both the process of giving reasons for believing something is true as well as the term used to describe the reason(s) given.
An argument is also a disagreement between two or more persons, in which opposing...
Authority
Authority is the official permission or right to act, often on behalf of another. Authority may also be a person or institution that has power over another person.
Authority as agency is the power to act on behalf of another...
Authorize
To authorize means to grant authority; to empower. It may also mean to formally or officially approve.
[Last updated in June of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]
Baker v. Carr (1962)
A Supreme Court case that held that federal courts could hear cases that claimed that malapportionment of state legislatures violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. By holding that such cases were justiciable, the Supreme Court paved...
Canon Law
Definition from Nolo’s Plain-English Law DictionaryThe laws of a church or religion, especially those of the Roman Catholic Church, that govern the powers of the clergy, administration of the church, and church ceremonies. Roman Catholic laws, which are...