individual rights

Abortion is the voluntary termination of a pregnancy.

Abuse is an action that intentionally causes harm or injures another person. This can refer to physical abuse, psychological abuse, mental abuse, or child abuse (see below). 

Abuse is also to misuse something—e.g., abuse of process. 

An accommodation originally meant a loan or other financial favor. An accommodation more commonly means providing assistance or convenience for a person, and the practice of modifying objects and situations to their benefit or needs.

An accusation is informally stating that a person has committed an illegal or immoral act.

Acquisition of citizenship refers to the ability of individuals born abroad to achieve U.S. citizenship because at least one of their parents is a U.S. citizen. If the child meets the complex requirements, the child “acquires” citizenship through a parent even if the child was born abroad. The laws governing acquisition of citizenship have been changed significantly, and in order to determine a child’s eligibility for acquisition, they must look to the laws applicable for their birth year.

• foreign-born children
• Child Citizenship Act
• automatic citizenship

See: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

[Last reviewed in November of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) was issued in 1967 and signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson and prohibits discrimination on the basis of age.

An affirmative defense is a defense in which the defendant introduces evidence, which, if found to be credible, will negate criminal liability or civil liability, even if it is proven tha

• criminal law
• CIVIL LAW
• defense
• AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE

The purpose of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) is to protect workers over age of 40 from discrimination in employment.