Consideration refers to the requirement that each party to a contract must provide something of value to the other party. It is a fundamental element that distinguishes a contract from a gift.
A contract does not need to be in writing to be legally enforceable. As long as there is a valid offer, acceptance, and consideration, an oral contract can be enforceable, though some types of contracts must be in writing under the Statute of Frauds.
The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, and a valid search warrant must meet two key requirements: it must be supported by probable cause and it must specifically describe the place to be searched and the items to be seized. This ensures that searches are conducted with proper judicial oversight and are limited in scope to what is necessary for the investigation.
The doctrine of separation of powers is a fundamental principle in the U.S. Constitution that divides the powers of government among three branches: the legislative (Congress), the executive (President), and the judicial (Supreme Court and other courts). This separation is designed to prevent any single branch from accumulating too much power and to create a system of checks and balances where each branch can limit the powers of the others.
Hearsay is an out-of-court statement made by someone other than the witness testifying about the statement, offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted. Such statements are generally inadmissible because they are not subject to cross-examination and lack reliability. However, there are many exceptions to the hearsay rule, but a simple recounting of what someone else said about an incident typically does not qualify as an exception and is inadmissible.
