Blacks Law Dict. 1st ed

ACTB AUTHENTIQUE

ACT OP INDEMNITY

of the parties, the notary draws up an instru ment, evidencing the transaction, called by this name. ACT OF INDEMNITY. A statute by which those who have committed illegal acts which subject them to penalties are protected from the consequences of such acts. ACT OF INSOLVENCY. Within the meaning of the national currency act, an act of insolvency is an act which shows the bank to be insolvent; such as non-payment of its circulating notes, bills of exchange, or certifi cates of deposit; failure to make good the im pairment of capital, or to keep good its sur plus or reserve; in fact, any act which shows that the bank is unable to meet its liabilities as they mature, or to perform those duties which the law imposes for the purpose of sus taining its credit. 5 Biss. 504. ACT OF LAW. The operation of fixed legal rules upon given facts or occurrences, producing consequences independent of the design or will of the parties concerned; as distinguished from "act of parties." ACT OF PARLIAMENT. A statute, law, or edict, made by the British sovereign, with the advice and consent of the lords spir itual and temporal, and the commons, in par liament assembled. Acts of parliament form the leges scriptce, i. «., the written laws of the kingdom. ACT OF SETTLEMENT. The statute (12 & 13 Wm. III. c. 2) limiting the crown to the Princess Sophia of Hanover, and to the heirs of her body being Protestants. ACT OF STATE. An act done by the sovereign power of a country, or by its dele gate, within the limits of the power vested in him. An act of state cannot be questioned or made the subject of legal proceedings in a court of law. ACT OF SUPREMACY. The statute (1 Eliz. c. 1) by which the supremacy of the British crown in ecclesiastical matters with in the realm was declared and established. ACT OF UNIFORMITY. In English law. The statute of 13 & 14 Car. II. c. 4, enacting that the book of common prayer, as then recently revised, should be used in every parish church and other place of public wor ship, and otherwise ordaining a uniformity In religious services, etc. 3 Steph. Comm. 104.

ACT OF UNION. In English law. The statute of 5 Anne, c. 8, by which the articles of union between the two kingdoms of England and Scotland were ratified and confirmed. 1 Bl. Comm. 97. ACT ON PETITION. A form of sum mary proceeding formerly in use in the high court of admiralty, in England, in which the parties stated their respective cases briefly, and supported their statements by affidavit. 2 Dod. Adm. 174,184; 1 Hagg. Adm. 1, note. ACTA DIURNA. Lat. In the Roman law. Daily acts; the public registers or journals of the daily proceedings of the sen ate, assemblies of the people, courts of jus tice, etc. Supposed to have resembled ? modern newspaper. Brande. Acta exteriora indicant interiora se creta. 8 Coke, 1466. External acts indicate undisclosed thoughts. Acta in uno judioio non probant in alio nisi inter easdem personas. Things done in one action cannot be taken as evi dence in another, unless it be between the same parties. Tray. Lat. Max. 11. ACTA PUBLICA. Lat. Things of gen eral knowledge and concern; matters trans acted before certain public officers. Calvin. ACTE. In French law, denotes a docu ment, or formal, solemn writing, embodying a legal attestation that something has been done, corresponding to one sense or use of the English word " act." Thus, actes de naissanc* are the certificates of birth, and must contain the day, hour, and place of birth, together with the sex and intended Christian name of the child, and the names of the parents and of the witnesses. Actes de mariage are the marriage certificates, and contain names, pro fessions, ages, and places of birth and domi cile of the two persons marrying, and of their parents; also the consent of these latter, and the mutual agreements of the intended hus band and wife to take each other for better and worse, together with the usual attesta tions. Actes de defies are the certificates of death, which are required to be drawn up be fore any one may be buried. Les actes de V Hat civil are public documents. Brown. ACTE AUTHENTIQUE. In French law. A deed, executed with certain pre scribed formalities, in the presence of a no tary, mayor, greffier, huissier, or other func tionary qualified to act in the place in which it is drawn up. Argles, Fr. Merc Law, 50.

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