Blue Laws : state or local laws which prohibit certain activities, particularly
entertainment, sports or drinking on Sunday, to honor the Christian
Sabbath. They were employed in the New England colonies controlled by
the puritans who kept the Sabbath sacred. "Blue" was slang for
puritanical. In most cases blue laws have been repealed, but vestiges
remain at least informally.
Blue Ribbon Jury : Jury
selected from prominent, well-educated citizens, sometimes to investigate a
particular problem such as civic corruption. Use of blue ribbon juries in
criminal cases violates the right to have a jury of one's peers.
Bylaws : The
written rules for conduct of a corporation, association, partnership or any
organization. They should not be confused with the articles of incorporation,
which only state the basic outline of the company, including stock structure.
Bylaws generally provide for meetings, elections of a board of directors and
officers, filling vacancies, notices, types and duties of officers, committees,
assessments and other routine conduct. Bylaws are in effect a contract among
members and must be formally adopted and/or amended.
