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Unfair labor practice
Actions by the employer which interfere with, restrain, coerce, or threaten employees with respect to their rights.

Uniform Commercial Code (U.C.C.)
A uniform law governing commercial transactions. The U.C.C. has been adopted by all states except Louisiana.

Uniform Laws
Annotated Annotated uniform and model acts approved by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.

Unilateral contract
An agreement by which one undertakes an express performance without receiving any express promise of performance from the other.

Union
An organization of workers formed for the purpose of collective bargaining.

United States Attorney
A federal district attorney appointed by the President to prosecute for all offenses committed against the United States; to prosecute or defend for the government all civil actions in which it is concerned and perform all duties of the district to which he/she is assigned.

United States Bankruptcy Court
The judicial body which hears matters pertaining to bankruptcy and reorganization.

United States Court of Appeals
Courts which hear appeals from federal district courts, bankruptcy courts, and tax courts.

United States Court of Claims
Court which hears actions against the U.S. Government.

United States Court of Military Appeals
Court which hears appeals from court marshal decisions .

United States Court of Customs & Patent Appeals
Court which hears appeals from all U.S. customs courts.

United States Court of International Trade
Court which hears cases concerning federal tariff laws.

United States District Courts
Courts which try both criminal and civil actions and admiralty cases.

United States Magistrate Judge
Courts given authority by 28 U.S.C. s 636. This court hears all preliminary criminal matters, but does not conduct felony trials, and any pretrial civil matters referred by the district court. If all parties consent, criminal misdemeanor and civil trials can be heard by this court.

United States Marshal's Service
Agency which serves civil and criminal process in federal courts.

United States Postal Service
The federal office which provides mail delivery to individuals and businesses within the United States.

United States Reports
Publication of court decisions of the United States Supreme Court.

United States Supreme Court
The highest court in the land, established by U.S. Constitution.

Unlawful detainer
A detention of real estate without the consent of the owner or other person entitled to its possession.

Unliquidated debt
Remaining not determined; unassessed or unsettled; in dispute as to the proper amount.

Unsecured debts
In bankruptcy, debts such as open accounts at department stores for which the debtor has not pledged collateral to guarantee payment.

Urban
A city or town.

Usury
Extraction of interest on a loan above the maximum rate permitted by statute.

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Vacate
To set aside.

Venire
A writ summoning persons to court to act as jurors.

Venue
Authority of a court to hear a matter based on geographical location.

Verdict
A conclusion, as to fact or law, that forms the basis for the court's judgment. (See directed verdict.)

Veterans' Administration (VA)
The federal agency which administers a system of benefits for veterans and their dependents.

Visa
An official endorsement on a document or passport denoting that the bearer may proceed.

Void
Invalid; a void agreement is one for which there is no remedy.

Voidable
Capable of being declared invalid; a voidable contract is one where a person may avoid his obligation, as a contract between an adult and a minor.

Voir dire
The preliminary examination made in court of a witness or juror to determine his competency or interest in a matter. Literally, to speak the truth.

Voluntary bankruptcy
A proceeding by which a debtor voluntarily asks for a discharge of his debts under the Bankruptcy Code.