Vocabulary Splash by Nina Lin

United States Constitution

ninal51 — 2025-10-14 13:08:18 UTC

The fundamental or organic law of the U.S., framed in 1787 by the Constitutional Convention. It went into effect March 4, 1789.

Imminent

irenel42 — 2025-10-14 13:08:41 UTC

About to happen or occur. Something that is to take place very soon; immediate.

Voir Dire

irenel42 — 2025-10-14 13:09:30 UTC

The procedure by which an expert witness is qualified, which consists of both a direct examination by the person offering the witness as an expert and a cross-examination. A good way to begin is to introduce the expert to the judge or jury and go through the expert’s resume to establish them as having an extensive background in education and work experience in the subject that you want to qualify them as an

Heat of Passion

ninal51 — 2025-10-14 13:10:06 UTC

A mitigating factor that may be raised by an accused criminal, claiming to have been in an uncontrollable rage, terror, or fury at the time of the alleged crime, especially one provoked by the victim.

Theory of the case

irenel42 — 2025-10-14 13:10:49 UTC

The fundamental argument as to why your side should win. Your theory of the case is your side’s version of “what really happened.”

Provocation

ninal51 — 2025-10-14 13:10:50 UTC

Something which causes a reasonable person to lose control. If a spouse discovers their partner having sex with another and, in the heat of passion, the spouse intentionally kills their partner or the partner’s lover, the homicide will be held to be voluntary manslaughter rather than murder.

Waive

ninal51 — 2025-10-14 13:11:11 UTC

Voluntarily giving up a right, including knowingly giving up the fifth amendment's privilege against self-incrimination.

Taking or Pleading the 5th

irenel42 — 2025-10-14 13:11:36 UTC

Claiming the right to remain silent and not have this fact used against them.

Reasonable

ninal51 — 2025-10-14 13:12:25 UTC

Just, rational, appropriate, ordinary, or usual in the circumstances. The reasonable person is a legal fiction meant to suggest a person of average caution, care and consideration.

5th Amendment (Amendment V) to the U.S. Constitution

irenel42 — 2025-10-14 13:12:54 UTC

A change adopted into the U.S. Constitution that protects against self-incrimination.

Mens Rea

ninal51 — 2025-10-14 13:13:22 UTC

Law Latin for “guilty mind.” The mental element of a person's intention to commit a crime.

6th Amendment (Amendment VI) to the U.S. Constitution

irenel42 — 2025-10-14 13:13:31 UTC

A change adopted into the U.S. Constitution that guarantees criminal defendants the right to a lawyer.

Actus reus

irenel42 — 2025-10-14 13:14:00 UTC

Law Latin for “guilty act.” The wrongful act that makes up the physical action of a crime.

Battered Woman Syndrome

ninal51 — 2025-10-14 13:14:32 UTC

A criminal defense involving a pattern of psychological dependency among women caught in long-term relationships with abusive male partners.

Prosecutor

ninal51 — 2025-10-14 13:14:57 UTC

An attorney representing the government in a criminal case.

Affidavit

irenel42 — 2025-10-14 13:15:07 UTC

A written statement that someone makes after promising officially to tell the truth. An affidavit can be used as proof in a law court.

Miranda Warning

ninal51 — 2025-10-14 13:15:30 UTC

The constitutional requirement that once an individual is detained by the police, a police officer is required to warn them of the right to remain silent, the right to consult with an attorney and have the attorney present during questioning, and the right to have an attorney appointed if indigent.