Law Dictionary Definitions

Freedom of Information Act.The federal statute that establishes guidelines for public disclosure of documents and materials created and held by federal agencies. 5 USCA § 552. • The basic purpose of the statute, or of a state statute modeled after it, is to give the public access to official information so that the public will…

  freedom of expression.The freedom of speech, press, assembly, or religion as guaranteed by the First Amendment; the prohibition of governmental interference with those freedoms. Cf. FREEDOM OF SPEECH. [Cases: Constitutional Law 84, 90, 91. C.J.S. Constitutional Law §§ 461–462, 466, 513–517, 539, 542, 612–629.][Blacks Law 8th]

freedom of contract.The doctrine that people have the right to bind themselves legally; a judicial concept that contracts are based on mutual agreement and free choice, and thus should not be hampered by external control such as governmental interference. • This is the principle that people are able to fashion their relations by private agreements,…

freedom of choice. 1. The liberty embodied in the exercise of one’s rights. 2. The parents’ opportunity to select a school for their child in a unitary, integrated school system that is devoid of de jure segregation. 3. The liberty to exercise one’s right of privacy, esp. the right to have an abortion. — Also…

freedom of association.The right to join with others in a common undertaking that would be lawful if pursued individually. • This right is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The government may not prohibit outsiders from joining an association, but the insiders do not necessarily have a right to exclude others. Cf.…

freedom of assembly.See RIGHT OF ASSEMBLY.[Blacks Law 8th]

Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.A 1994 federal statute that provides for criminal sanctions, private civil causes of action, and civil action by the U.S. Attorney General against a person who uses force, threat of force, or physical obstruction to injure, intimidate, or interfere with a provider or patient of reproductive services or who…

freedom. 1. The state of being free or liberated. 2. A political right.[Blacks Law 8th]

freedman (freed-m<<schwa>>n).Hist. An emancipated slave.[Blacks Law 8th]

free city.Int’l law. A country-like political and territorial entity that, although independent in principle, does not have the full capacity to act according to general international law but is nevertheless a subject of international law.[Blacks Law 8th]