free from prejudice; fair or impartial

punishable by death

a tax, fee, or charge of the same amount for every person

matters to be decided (in a court of law)

declarations made in writing and signed by the person and intended to verify a fact

make a declaration in writing

the action of transferring the title or ownership of something to another owner

a document which outlines the conditions under which a colony is organized

the senior judge of the Supreme Court

1) relating to a person as a member of a community. It comes from a Latin word meaning “city.”; 2) relating to the community, or to the policy and government of the citizens

the liberty of persons in a society. Society restrains “natural liberty” for the safety of its citizens. So “liberty” in a civilized society has as part of its definition the control of the individual to the extent that the individual may not harm or hinder the liberty of another individual. Unnecessary restraint of natural liberty when an individual’s actions do not threaten the public good is oppression and therefore not liberty. See also natural liberty, liberty

1) a group of people who settle in a place away from their native land, but remain under the political control of their native land; 2) the land settled by these people.

supreme commander of the armed forces

1) a written document given to a person authorizing him to perform certain duties; 2) the act of giving a commission to a person

that body of rules, principles and customs which have been received from our ancestors, and recognized by courts. It is different from “statutory law,” which is laws made by legislatures. It applies to disputes between private parties in non-criminal matters. The phrase “at common law” means according to common law.

contract or treaty

a legal document ordering a person to appear in court

to make a final determination

agree

agreement

existing at the same time

a group of independent nations or states joined together. The Confederation was the word that referred to the United States before the Constitution was adopted.

1) a body of persons with the power to make laws. The U.S. Congress is composed of the Senate and House of Representatives.; 2) a meeting of individuals who will deal with matters for their common good

asked earnestly

relationship by descent from the same ancestor; relationship by blood; kinship; close relationship

permission

a group of stars that form a recognizable pattern

forming

1) an agreement that sets in place a system of fundamental principles for the government of rational and social beings; 2) a system of fundamental rules, principles and laws that establishes the form of government in a state or country; 3) a document in which these fundamental laws and principles are written; 4) the state of being; or the way a thing is composed or made up The word comes from “constitute,” which means to fix or establish. So, our Constitution fixes or establishes what our government is and what it does.

forces or compels

interpreted or explained

a person appointed by his government to live in a foreign country and serve his own country’s business interests, and citizens in that foreign country

lawsuits

to cause to assemble

meeting of delegates or representatives for consultation on important issues

communication

a blood relative or family member of a person guilty of treason is held guilty of his or her relative’s treason. In times prior to this, sometimes a traitor’s family members were also punished.

1) confidence which people place in the ability of a nation, company or individual to repay borrowed money; 2) a reliance on the truth of something said or done

set of beliefs or aims that guide someone’s actions

the power of a king