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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Violence Against Women Act
Read a random definition: Smithsonian Institution
A quick definition of Violence Against Women Act:
Violence Against Women Act: A law that helps protect women from violence and abuse. It was created to give victims of gender-motivated violence a way to seek justice through the legal system. However, in 2000, the Supreme Court ruled that the law's civil-remedy provision was not authorized by the Constitution. The law is often abbreviated as VAWA.
A more thorough explanation:
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a federal law that was enacted to protect women from gender-motivated violence. It provides a federal civil-rights action for victims of such violence.
For example, if a woman is physically assaulted by her partner because of her gender, she can use VAWA to seek legal remedies and damages.
However, in 2000, the Supreme Court ruled that the civil-remedy provision of VAWA was unconstitutional. The Court held that Congress did not have the authority to enact it under the Commerce Clause or the Enforcement Clause of the 14th Amendment.
Despite this setback, VAWA remains an important law that has helped many women seek justice and protection from violence.