Law Dictionary Definitions

Bureau of Customs.See UNITED STATES CUSTOMS SERVICE.[Blacks Law 8th]

Bureau of Consular Affairs.A unit in the U.S. Department of State responsible for protecting U.S. citizens and interests abroad. • Through its Office of Passport Services it issues over 7 million passports each year.[Blacks Law 8th]

Bureau of Arms Control.A unit in the U.S. Department of State responsible for directing U.S. participation in multilateral arms-control negotiations and in the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. • It also monitors developments relating to arms control and weapons development.[Blacks Law 8th]

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.A unit in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security responsible for enforcing laws relating to firearms and explosives and laws relating to the production, taxation, and distribution of alcohol and tobacco products. • Formerly called the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and a part of the Department of…

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.See ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TAX AND TRADE BUREAU ; BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS, AND EXPLOSIVES.[Blacks Law 8th]

burden of proof. 1. A party’s duty to prove a disputed assertion or charge. • The burden of proof includes both the burden of persuasion and the burden of production. — Also termed onus probandi. See SHIFTING THE BURDEN OF PROOF. 2. Loosely, BURDEN OF PERSUASION. [Cases: Evidence  90. C.J.S. Evidence § 120–121, 126, 128.]…

burden of production.A party’s duty to introduce enough evidence on an issue to have the issue decided by the fact-finder, rather than decided against the party in a peremptory ruling such as a summary judgment or a directed verdict. — Also termed burden of going forward with evidence; burden of producing evidence; production burden; degree of…

burden of pleading.See BURDEN OF ALLEGATION. [Blacks Law 8th]

burden of persuasion.A party’s duty to convince the fact-finder to view the facts in a way that favors that party. • In civil cases, the plaintiff’s burden is usu. “by a preponderance of the evidence,” while in criminal cases the prosecution’s burden is “beyond a reasonable doubt.” — Also termed persuasion burden; risk of nonpersuasion;…

burden of going forward with evidence.See BURDEN OF PRODUCTION. [Blacks Law 8th]