republic, n. A system of government in which the people hold sovereign power and elect representatives who exercise that power. • It contrasts on the one hand with a pure democracy, in which the people or community as an organized whole wield the sovereign power of government, and on the other with the rule of […]
law of the road 道路交通法；交通规则 指由有关惯例或习惯做法固定而成的调整公路交通的规则体系，主要涉及交通安全，以及对同时使用公路之交通人的权利的调节。 (→right of way; rules of the road)
make law. 1. To legislate. 2. To issue a legal precedent, esp. a judicial decision, that establishes a new rule of law on a particular subject. 3. Hist. To deny a plaintiff’s charge under oath, in open court, with compurgators.
Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. The book of substantive law (judicial and administrative-law precedents) and procedural rules for patent examiners at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. — Abbr. MPEP.
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motion to dismiss. A request that the court dismiss the case because of settlement, voluntary withdrawal, or a procedural defect. • Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a plaintiff may voluntarily dismiss the case (under Rule 41(a)) or the defendant may ask the court to dismiss the case, usu. based on one of the
honorable-engagement clause. Reinsurance. An arbitration provision in a reinsurance contract allowing the arbitrators to view the reinsurance arrangement reasonably — in line with the agreement’s general purposes — rather than strictly according to the rules of law or an overly technical interpretation of contract language. [Cases: Insurance 3626. C.J.S. Insurance § 1516.]
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local option. An option that allows a municipality or other governmental unit to determine a particular course of action without the specific approval of state officials. — Also termed local veto. Cf. HOME RULE. [Cases: Intoxicating Liquors 24–43; Municipal Corporations 65. C.J.S. Intoxicating Liquors §§ 49–89; Municipal Corporations §§ 122, 140–141, 143.]
motion for directed verdict. A party’s request that the court enter judgment in its favor before submitting the case to the jury because there is no legally sufficient evidentiary foundation on which a reasonable jury could find for the other party. • Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the equivalent court paper is known
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Garner doctrine. The rule that allows shareholder plaintiffs in a corporate derivative action to discover confi-dential communications between a corporate officer and the corporation’s attorney. • The Garner doctrine does not apply to attorney work product, and the movant must show good cause. Garner v. Wolfinbarger, 430 F.2d 1093 (5th Cir. 1970). See DERIVATIVE ACTION(1).
local-exchange network. Telecommunications law. A system for providing telephone service on a local basis. • A local-exchange network usu. consists of such elements as switches, local loops, and transport trunks, and capabilities such as billing databases and operator services. Switches are pieces of equipment that direct calls to the appropriate destination. Local loops are the
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