lex Sempronia (leks sem-proh-nee-[schwa]). [Latin] Roman law. A law of 122 B.C. transferring the duty of jury service from the senators to the equestrians (knights). • The control of the juries in the quaestiones perpetuae, particularly in extortion (repetundae) trials, was one of the key areas of political conflict in the late Republic.
quaestio perpetua (kwes-chee-oh-neez p[schwa]r-pech-oo-ee). [Latin “perpetual inquiry”] Roman law. A permanent commission to hear criminal cases; specif., a standing jury court created by statute to try and pass sentence on particular crimes. Pl. quaestiones perpetuae. “Then in 149 the lex Calpurnia was passed, concerned not only with reparation but also punishment; it established a permanent
blackmail, n. 1. A threatening demand made without justification; EXTORTION. Cf. FEEMAIL; GRAYMAIL; GREENMAIL(1), (2). [Cases: Extortion and Threats 25. 1. C.J.S. Threats and Unlawful Communications §§ 2–20.] — blackmail, vb. “[Blackmail is] a certain rate of Money, Corn, Cattle, or other consideration, paid to some inhabiting upon, or near the borders, being persons of
racketeering, n. 1. A system of organized crime traditionally involving the extortion of money from businesses by intimidation, violence, or other illegal methods. [Cases: Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations 4, 103. C.J.S. RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) §§ 4, 6.] 2. A pattern of illegal activity (such as bribery, extortion, fraud, and murder) carried
oppression. 1. The act or an instance of unjustly exercising authority or power. 2. An offense consisting in the abuse of discretionary authority by a public officer who has an improper motive, as a result of which a person is injured. • This offense does not include extortion, which is typically a more serious crime.
loansharking n. 放高利贷 指以过高的尤指高利贷利率，并采用威胁或勒索手段强制偿还贷款的借贷行为。这种行为在美国《联邦刑法典》〔Federal Criminal Code〕中又被称为「extortionate credit transactions」。
menacing, n. An attempt to commit common-law assault. • The term is used esp. in jurisdictions that have defined assault to include battery. See ASSAULT. [Cases: Assault and Battery 61; Extortion and Threats 25. 1. C.J.S. Assault and Battery § 82; Threats and Unlawful Communications §§ 2–20.]
blackmail n. (1)讹诈罪 也称制定法上之勒索罪〔statutory extortion〕。指以伤害身体、毁坏财物、控告犯罪或揭露丑闻相威胁而非法索要钱财的行为。其原义是指中世纪居住在苏格兰边界的英格兰居民被迫向苏格兰酋长交纳的贡品，作为免受边界盗贼侵害的保证条件。 (2)(英格兰古法)黑租 指用牲口、谷物或劳作等方式给付的租金，区别于以银子交付的白租〔white rents〕。(→black rents)
stalking. 1. The act or an instance of following another by stealth. 2. The offense of following or loitering near another, often surreptitiously, with the purpose of annoying or harassing that person or committing a further crime such as assault or battery. • Some statutory definitions include an element that the person being stalked must