canon law. 1. A body of western ecclesiastical law that was compiled from the 12th to 14th centuries. • It has grown steadily since that time, and is now codified in the Codex Juris Canonici of 1983, replacing that of 1918. — Also termed corpus juris canonici; papal law; jus canonicum. 2. A body of […]
Roman–Dutch law. A system of law in Holland from the mid-15th century to the early 19th century, based on a mixture of Germanic customary law and Roman law as interpreted in medieval and Renaissance lawbooks. • This law forms the basis of modern South African law, the law of several other countries in southern Africa,
magistratus (maj-[schwa]-stray-t[schwa]s), n. [fr. Latin magister “a master”] Roman law. 1. A magistrate. 2. A magistrate’s office. “Magistratus. Denotes both the public office and the official himself. Magistracy was a Republican institution; under the Principate some magistratus continued to exist but with gradually diminishing importance; in the post-Diocletian Empire some former magistracies still exist but
matertera major (m[schwa]-t[schwa]r-t[schwa]r-[schwa] may-j[schwa]r). [Latin] Roman law. A great-great-aunt; the sister of one’s great-grandmother.
executive power. Constitutional law. The power to see that the laws are duly executed and enforced. • Under federal law, this power is vested in the President; in the states, it is vested in the governors. The President’s enumerated powers are found in the U.S. Constitution, art. II, § 2; governors’ executive powers are provided
The theory that the validity of a law should be measured by determining the extent to which it would promote the greatest happiness to the greatest number of citizens. • This theory is found most prominently in the work of Jeremy Bentham, whose “Benthamite utilitarianism” greatly influenced legal reform in 19th-century Britain. Hedonistic utilitarianism generally
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peril of the sea. An action of the elements at sea of such force as to overcome the strength of a well-founded ship and the normal precautions of good marine practice. • A peril of the sea may relieve a carrier from liability for the resulting losses. — Also termed danger of navigation; danger of
recusatio judicis (reh-kyoo-zay-shee-oh joo-dish-is), n. [Latin] Eccles. law. The procedure and grounds by which a judge may be challenged and removed from hearing a case. • The grounds for disqualification traditionally include great friendship or enmity with a party, close kinship to a party, acceptance of a bribe, previously giving counsel to a party, or
majores (m[schwa]-jor-eez), n. [Latin “greater persons”] 1. Roman law. Ancestors; forebears. 2. Hist. Greater persons; persons of a higher status.
witenagemot (wit-[schwa]-n[schwa]-g[schwa]-moht). [Anglo-Saxon “a meeting of the wise”] Hist. A national assembly of noblemen, high ecclesiastics, and other great thanes of England who advised and aided the king in the general administration of the government. • Its composition depended on the will of the king. It passed out of existence with the Norman Conquest (1066).