administrative powers
Discretionary powers of an executive nature that are conferred by legislation on government ministers, public and local authorities, and other bodies and persons for the purpose of giving detailed ...
adoption
In the heroic monomyth, the divine child is often adopted by menials or animals after being abandoned or threatened in some way. Oedipus, Sigurd (Siegfried), Krishna, Cybele, and Romulus and Remus ...
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
(ACAS)A UK government body set up in 1975 to mediate in industrial disputes in both the public and private sectors. Its findings are not binding on either side, but carry considerable weight. In some ...
agency workers
A worker who is supplied to an employer by an agency, usually on a temporary or contingent basis. Such workers are sometimes said to have a ‘trianglar’ working relationship, in that they do their ...
AIDS
The immunodeficiency (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) caused by infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Opportunistic infections are likely to occur, tuberculosis being an increasing ...
alien
N.A person who, under the law of a particular state, is not a citizen of that state. Aliens are usually classified as resident aliens (domiciled in the host country) or transient aliens (temporarily ...
amendment
N.1 Changes made to legislation, for the purpose of adding to, correcting, or modifying the operation of the legislation.2 Changes made to the statement of case used in civil litigation. The relevant ...
approximation of laws
The process by which member states of the EU change their national laws to enable the free market to function properly. It is required by the Treaty of Rome. Compare harmonization of laws.
archaeological heritage
A working definition of ‘heritage’ is provided by the expression ‘that part of a nation's past which is of public interest and concern’. Of necessity this invokes the public law ...
architectural conservation
The desirability of conserving past architectures and their settings has its roots in antiquarianism, a fascination with architectural antiquity and the Italian Renaissance. From the sixteenth ...
assisted conception
The birth of Louise Brown, the first baby created by in vitro fertilization (‘IVF’), in July 1978 was one of the most important scientific breakthroughs of the twentieth century. Following ...
Attorney-General's Reference
Where a person tried on indictment has been acquitted (whether on all or part of the indictment), the Attorney‐General may, under s 36(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1972, seek the opinion of the ...
British citizenship
One of three forms of citizenship introduced by the British Nationality Act 1981, which replaced citizenship of the UK and Colonies. The others were British Dependent Territories citizenship (now ...
cabinet
The term was first used in the early 17th century for the private room in which confidential advisers of the sovereign or chief ministers of a country meet; the current sense of a committee of senior ...
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is part of the Canadian Constitution. It was a central element of constitutional renewal embarked upon by then Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, following ...
canon law
The body of rules or laws developing gradually, imposed by church authority in matters of its own organization and discipline (extending also to matters of belief).
capacity
(to, or of)The personal (physical or mental) or legal factors specific to a person that enable them to achieve some legal outcome such as making a will, voting or ...
causing or inciting or controlling prostitution
The offence of organizing or encouraging the sale of sexual services. For the first time, ss 48 to 50 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 introduce specific offences relating to causing inciting or ...
cautioning
Criminal justice systems generally provide for suspected offenders to be warned—ie ‘cautioned’—instead of being prosecuted. Enforcement agencies cannot arrest and prosecute everyone, and prosecution ...
CE
[French Communauté européenne: European Community]A marking applied to certain products, such as toys and machinery, to indicate that they have complied with certain EU directives that apply to them, ...
