a nonverbal reaction | the learned profession that is mastered by graduate study in a law school and that is responsible for the judicial system |
the speech act of replying to a question | a rule or body of rules of conduct inherent in human nature and essential to or binding upon human society |
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation | a generalization that describes recurring facts or events in nature |
a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem | the branch of philosophy concerned with the law and the principles that lead courts to make the decisions they do |
the principal pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff's complaint; in criminal law it consists of the defendant's plea of `guilty' or `not guilty' (or nolo contendere); in civil law it must contain denials of all allegations in the plaintiff's complaint that the defendant hopes to controvert and it can contain affirmative defenses or counterclaims | legal document setting forth rules governing a particular kind of activity |
| the collection of rules imposed by authority |
| the force of policemen and officers |