Aggravating circumstances refers to the factors that increase the severity or culpability of a criminal act. Typically, the presence of an aggravating circumstance will lead to a harsher penalty for a convicted criminal.
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CIVICS
AGI
AGI is an acronym for adjusted gross income.
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is defined as the gross income earned by an individual minus several adjustments made to that income, such as trade and business deductions. Gross...
alcohol
Alcohol is a set of chemical compounds consumed as a liquid by individuals for its intoxicating effect or used in industrial projects for its other unique properties.
Absent any specific regulation, alcohol is treated like...
algorithm
An algorithm is a set of rules or a computational procedure that is typically used to solve a specific problem. In the case of Vidillion, Inc. v. Pixalate Inc. an algorithm is defined as “one or more process(es), set of rules, or methodology...
alien
Alien is a legal term that refers to any person who is not a citizen or a national of the United States, as listed in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). There are different categories of aliens: resident and nonresident, immigrant and...
Alien Registration Card (ARC)
An Alien Registration Card is the official name for the identification card given to lawful permanent residents by the USCIS to identify them as such. Other names for the alien registration card include green card, permanent resident card,...
Alien Tort Statute
The Alien Tort Statute ("ATS"; also known as the Alien Tort Claims Act) is a common name for 28 U.S.C. § 1350. The ATS grants federal district courts original jurisdiction over any civil action where an alien sues for a tort “committed in...
Allen charge
Allen charges (also referred to as dynamite, nitroglycerin, shotgun, or third-degree charges) refer to jury instructions given to a hung jury urging them to agree on a verdict. Allen charges are controversial as some claim they overly...
alternative minimum tax (AMT)
Alternative minimum tax (AMT) can be defined as a tax mechanism that calculates taxable income after certain deductions and tax preferences are made. The AMT is imposed in addition to the regular income tax for certain individuals, estates...
alternative writ of mandate (mandamus)
Also called an alternative mandamus.
An alternative writ of mandate is a court order that 1) states the allegations of a complaint against a governmental agency, corporation, court, official, or other public authority and 2...