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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Grand Jury Clause
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A quick definition of Grand Jury Clause:
The Grand Jury Clause is a part of the Fifth Amendment in the United States Constitution. It says that before someone can be put on trial for a serious crime, a group of people called a grand jury must decide if there is enough evidence to charge them. This is to protect people from being unfairly accused and to make sure that the government has a good reason to take someone to court.
A more thorough explanation:
The Grand Jury Clause is a part of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. It states that a person cannot be tried for serious crimes without first being indicted by a grand jury.
A grand jury is a group of citizens who listen to evidence presented by a prosecutor and decide whether there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime. If the grand jury decides there is enough evidence, they issue an indictment, which is a formal accusation that the person has committed a crime.
For example, if someone is accused of murder, the prosecutor must present evidence to a grand jury. If the grand jury decides there is enough evidence, they will issue an indictment, and the person can then be tried for murder.
The Grand Jury Clause is an important protection for people accused of serious crimes. It ensures that a group of citizens, rather than just a prosecutor or judge, decides whether there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime.