Rhode Island Constitution Article I Section 7 – Requirement of presentment or indictment — Information by attorney-general — Grand juries — Double jeopardy
Terms Used In Rhode Island Constitution Article I Section 7 - Requirement of presentment or indictment -- Information by attorney-general -- Grand juries -- Double jeopardy
- Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
- Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
- Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
- Impeachment: (1) The process of calling something into question, as in "impeaching the testimony of a witness." (2) The constitutional process whereby the House of Representatives may "impeach" (accuse of misconduct) high officers of the federal government for trial in the Senate.
- Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
Except in cases of impeachment, or in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia when in actual service in time of war or public danger, no person shall be held to answer for any offense which is punishable by death or by imprisonment for life unless on presentment or indictment by a grand jury, and no person shall be held to answer for any other felony unless on presentment or indictment by a grand jury or on information in writing signed by the attorney-general or one of the attorney-general’s designated assistants, as the general assembly may provide and in accordance with procedures enacted by the general assembly. The general assembly may authorize the impaneling of grand juries with authority to indict for offenses committed any place within the state and it may provide that more than one grand jury may sit simultaneously within a county. No person shall be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy. Nothing contained in this Article shall be construed as in any wise impairing the inherent common law powers of the grand jury.