Law new is legislation enacted to address specific issues, update policies, or respond to changing needs. It reflects the democratic principles of representation and accountability as elected representatives take into account the priorities and needs of their constituents in shaping public policy and adapting to change. The process of creating new laws includes multiple steps, including drafting, committee review, floor debate, and voting. New laws may be amended during this process, and bipartisan support can help streamline the creation of legislation and make it more effective in meeting societal needs.

docket number: The unique number that identifies a case in a court. The first two numbers show the year it was filed, the next letter* shows which county, and the last six numbers are the specific case number. See also index number.

*N=New York (Manhattan); K=Kings (Brooklyn); Q=Queens; X=Bronx; R=Richmond; C=City Court; and S=Surrogate’s Court.

amicus curiae: Latin for “friend of the court.” Someone who gives advice to a court on what the law means in a case.

constitutional law: The rules and principles, descriptions of the government’s power, and the main rights that people of a country or state have. Also called the “rule of law.”

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