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fax 1. A method of transmitting over telephone lines an exact copy of a printing. 2. A machine used for such transmission. - Also termed telecopier. 3. The communication sent or received by such a machine. Also termed facsimile; (in senses 1 & 3) facsimile transmission. fax, vb.

FBI abbr. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION.

FCA abbr. 1. FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION. 2. FREE CARRIER.

FCC abbr. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION.

FCFAA abbr. FEDERAL COMPUTER FRAUD AND ABUSE ACT.

FCIC abbr. FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE CORPORATION.

FCJ abbr. Failure to comply with a judgment imposed for a traffic violation. The defendant's driver's license is suspended until the FCJ is remedied and the fines and fees are paid.

FCPV abbr. Failure to comply with parking-violation tickets. If a person has a certain number of unpaid parking tickets (often six) within a jurisdiction, the person will be barred from obtaining or renewing a driver's license.

FDA abbr. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION.

FDCA abbr. FOOD, DRUG, AND COSMETIC ACT.

FDCPA abbr. See FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT.

FDIC abbr. FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION.

feal (fee-al), adj. Archaic. Faithful; truthful. Also termed fefe.

fealty (feel-tee or fee-dl-tee). In feudal law, the allegiance that a tenant or vassal owes to a lord. Also termed feodality. "There was the possibility that if the entire top layer of the structure revolted, the king might be deprived of all support. To meet this possibility, the king also bound directly to himself all the important men in the lower strata of the [feudal] structure by an oath of loyalty. This was particularly effective for in medieval times the oath of fealty had all the sanction of the church, and in addition due to the necessity for feudal organization in times of disorder, had also a popular sanction in public opinion so that the man who broke his oath to his lord was one of the most execrable men to be found in the whole social organization." Charles Herman Kinnane, A First Book on Anglo-American Law 248 (2d ed. 1952).

fearm See FARM.

fear-of-cancer claim A tort claim founded on a plaintiff's mental anguish or emotional distress arising from the fear of developing cancer, where either (1) the plaintiff was exposed to asbestos or other carcinogenic agents, or (2) a physician's negligence gave rise to a potentially cancerous condition or permitted a cancer to develop unchecked. The plaintiff must demonstrate (1) actual exposure to a disease-causing agent, and (2) the reasonableness of the emotional distress. See Winik v. Jewish Hasp. of Brooklyn, 293 N.E.2d 95 (N.Y. 1972); Ferrara v. Galluchio, 152 N.E.2d 249 (N.Y. 1958). - Also termed cancerphobia claim.

feasance (fee-zants), n. The doing or execution of an act, condition, or obligation. Cf. MALFEASANCE; MISFEASANCE; NONFEASANCE. - feasor, n.

feasant (fez-ant or fee-zant). Archaic. Doing or causing. See DAMAGE FEASANT.

feasibility standard The requirement that, to obtain bankruptcy-court approval, a Chapter II reorganization plan must be workable and have a reasonable likelihood of success.

feasor (fee-zar), n. An actor; a person who commits an act. See TORTFEASOR.

feast 1. Roman law. An established holiday or festival in the ecclesiastical calendar, used as a date in a legal instrument. 2. One of four principal days (feasts) of the year: March 25, the annunciation of the Virgin Mary; June 24, the birth ofJohn the Baptist; September 28, the feast of St. Michael the Archangel; and December 21, the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle. The four feast days were used as fixed dates (called "quarter-da for paying rent; before 1875, they were used as a e point to set terms of courts. Also termed feast day;feast-day.

featherbedding A union practice designed to increase employment and guarantee job security by requiring employers to hire or retain more employees than are needed. The practice stems from employees' desire for job security in the face of technological improvement. Featherbedding is restricted by federal law but is an unfair labor practice only if, for example, a union exacts pay from an employer for services not performed or not to be performed.

FEC abbr. FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION.

FECA abbr. FEDERAL EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ACT.

feciaies See FETIALES.

feciallaw See FETIAL LAW.

Fed abbr. 1. FEDERAL. 2. FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM.

Fed- Appx. abbr. FEDERAL APPENDIX.

fed funds See FEDERAL FUNDS RATE.

fed wire The Federal Reserve's computer network that allows nearly instantaneous domestic money and securities transfers among the Federal Reserve's offices, depository institutions, the U.S. Treasury, and other government agencies.

Fed. Cir abbr. UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FEDERAL CIRCUIT.

Fed. R. App. P. abbr. FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE.

Fed. R. Bankr. P abbr. FEDERAL RULES OF BANKRUPTCY PROCEDURE.

Fed. R. Civ. P abbr. FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE.

Fed. R. Crim. P abbr. FEDERAL RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.

Fed. R. Evid abbr. FEDERAL RULES OF EVIDENCE.

Fed. Reg abbr. FEDERAL REGISTER.

federal adj. Of or relating to a system of associated governments with a vertical division of governments into national and regional components having different responsibilities; esp., of or relating to the national government of the United States. - Abbr. Fed.

federal magistrate UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE.

federal acquisition regulation (usu. pI.) A federal regulation that governs contracting methods, requirements, and procedures with the federal government. 48 CFR ch. 1. Also termed Federal Procurement Regulation.

federal act A statute enacted by the U.S. Congress. See FEDERAL LAW.

federal agency A department or other instrumentality of the executive branch of the federal government, including a government corporation and the Government Printing Office . The Administrative Procedure Act defines the term agency negatively as being any U.S. governmental authority that does not include Congress, the courts, the government of the District of Columbia, the government of any territory or possession, courts-martial, or military authority. 5 VSCA § 551. 1he caselaw on this definition focuses on authority: generally, an entity is an agency if it has authority to take binding action. Other federal statutes define agency to include any executive department, government corporation, governmentcontrolled corporation, or other establishment in the executive branch, or federal regulatory board.

federal agency- See AGENCY (3).

federal appeal An appeal to a federal appellate court usu. from (1) a federal district court to a United States circuit court, (2) a United States circuit court to the Supreme Court of the United States, or (3) a state supreme court to the Supreme Court of the United States.

federal appeal- See APPEAL.

federal appendix A set of reports containing all the full-text "unpublished" opinions that West receives from the federal circuit courts of appeals. These are the opinions not designated for publication in the Federal Reporter. Coverage began January 1, 2001. Abbr. Fed. Appx.

federal arbitration act A federal statute providing for the enforcement of private agreements to arbitrate disputes related to interstate commercial and maritime matters. Under the Act, arbitration agreements are enforced in accordance with their terms, just as other contracts are. The Act supersedes substantive state laws that frustrate enforcement of arbitration agreements but does not apply to matters of procedure. 9 USCA §§ 1-16. Abbr. FAA. - Also termed United States Arbitration Act.

federal aviation act A federal law establishing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to be responsible for regulation of aircraft and air travel, including aircraft safety, certification of aircraft personnel, and airport development. 49 USCA §§ 44720 et seq.

federal aviation administration The federal agency charged with regulating air commerce, promoting civil aviation and a national system of airports, achieving efficient use of navigable airspace, developing and operating a common system of air-traffic control and air navigation, and developing and implementing programs and regulations relating to environmental effects ofcivil aviation. The Federal Aviation Agency was established in 1958.49 USCA § 106. Its name was changed when it became a part of the Department of Transportation in 1967. The FAA was formerly charged with promoting safety in air transportation, but that task was transferred to the Transportation Security Administration after the terrorist attacks of 11 Sept. 2001. Abbr. FAA. - Formerly also termed Federal Aviation Agency.

federal aviation regulation (usu. pi.) A federal regulation governing the safety, maintenance, and piloting of civil aircraft. 14 CFR ch. 1. - Abbr. FAR.

federal bureau of Investigation A division of the U.S. Department ofJustice charged with investigating all violations of federal laws except those specifically assigned to another federal agency. Abbr. FBI.

federal bureau of prisons The U.S. government unit responsible for the custody and care of federal offenders, whether incarcerated in federal correctional and detention centers or in state-run or privately operated facilities. The Bureau was established in 1930 to centralize federal-prison administration and ensure consistency in prison operations.

federal census A census of a state or territory, or a portion of either, taken by the Census Bureau of the United States. The Constitution (art. 1, § 2) requires only a simple count of persons for purposes of apportioning congressional representation among the states. Under Congress's direction, however, the census has evolved to include a wide variety of information that is useful to businesses, historians, and other not affiliated with the federal government.

federal census- See CENSUS.

federal circuit See COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FEDERAL CIRCUIT.

federal citizen A citizen of the United States.

federal citizen- See CITIZEN.

federal claims, u.s. court of See UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS.

federal common law The body of decisional law derived from federal courts when adjudicating federal questions and other matters of federal concern, such as disputes between the states and foreign relations, but excluding all cases governed by state law. An example is the nonstatutory law applying to interstate streams of commerce. "Notwithstanding Erie, the federal common law still lives in a number of areas. In some, such as admiralty, the power to create common law has been inferred from a constitutional or statutory grant of jurisdiction, where a federal common law has appeared necessary to accomplish the purposes of the grant. In other cases, on more or less persuasive evidence, the [Supreme] Court has inferred implicit damage remedies on behalf of injured parties from federal statutes imposing duties for their protection, or has found an implicit congressional delegation of authority to make common law, as in actions on collective-bargaining agreements affecting commerce under the Taft-Hartley Act, § 301." David P. Currie, Federa/jurisdiction in a Nutshell 226 (3d ed. 1990).

federal common law- See COMMON LAW (1).

federal communications commission An independent federal commission that regulates interstate and foreign communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. The commission was created by the Communications Act of 1934.47 USCA §§ 151 et seq. Abbr. FCC.

federal computer fraud and abuse act A law establishing civil liability for gaining unauthorized access to a computer and causing damage to that computer. Damage is statutorily defined to include harm to the computer's data, programs, systems, and information either by compromising integrity or by impairing availability. Abbr. FCFAA.

federal court A court having federal jurisdiction, including the u.s. Supreme Court, circuit courts of appeals, district courts, bankruptcy courts, and tax courts. - Also termed United States court.

federal court- See COURT.

federal crime See FEDERAL CRIME.

federal crime- A criminal offense under a federal statute. Most federal crimes are codified in Title 18 of the U.S. Code.

federal crop insurance corporation A federally chartered corporation that protects farmers against financiallosses from crop failure due to adverse weather conditions. insect infestation, plant disease, floods, fires, and earthquakes by encouraging the sale of insurance through licensed agents and brokers and by reinsuring private companies that issue insurance under brand names. Created by the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938. the Corporation operates under the general supervision of the Secretary of Agriculture. Abbr. FCIC.

federal deposit insurance corporation A federal corporation that protects bank and thrift deposits by insuring accounts up to $100,000, examining banks that are not members of the Federal Reserve System, and liquidating failed institutions. It was established in 1933 and began insuring banks in 1934. - Abbr. FDIC.

federal election commission A ten-member independent federal commission that certifies payments to qualifying presidential campaigns in primary and general elections and to national-nominating conventions, audits campaign expenditures, and enforces laws requiring public disclosure of financial activities of presidential campaigns and political parties. It was established by the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971. 2 USCA § 437c. Abbr. FEC.

federal emergency management agency A unit in the Department of Homeland Security responsible for coordinating all emergency-preparedness activities of the federal government through its ten regional offices. FEMA also operates the National Flood Insurance Program and is responsible for fire protection and arson control. It was established as an independent agency by Executive Order 12127 of 31 Mar. 1979 and became a unit in the Department of Homeland Security in 2003. Abbr. FEMA.

federal employees' compensation act A workers'compensation law for federal employees. 5 USCA §§ 8101-8152 Abbr. FECA. See WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

federal employers' liability act A workers'-compensat ion law that provides death and disability benefits for employees of railroads engaged in interstate and foreign commerce. 45 USCA §§ 51-60 - Abbr. FELA.

federal enclave Territory or land that a state has ceded to the United States. Examples of federal enclaves are military bases, national parks, federally administered highways, and federal Indian reservations. The U.S. government has exclusive authority and juris.diction over federal enclaves.

federal enclave- See ENCLAVE.

federal energy regulatory commission An independent five-member commission in the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for licensing hydroelectric-power projects and for setting interstate rates on (1) transporting and selling natural gas for resale, (2) transporting and selling electricity at wholesale, and (3) transporting oil by pipeline. It was created by the Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977. As enforcer of the Natural Gas Act, it succeeded the Federal Power Commission. - Abbr. FERC.

federal farm credit bank One of a svstem of federally chartered institutions created to provide credit to farm-related enterprises. The banks resulted from a merger of federal land banks and federal intermediate credit banks. They are supervised by the Farm Credit Administration.

federal farm credit banks funding corporation A federal corporation that manages the sale of Federal Farm Credit System securities in the money and capital markets and also provides advisory services to banks in the Federal Farm Credit System.

federal farm credit system The national cooperative system of banks and associations providing credit to farmers, agricultural concerns, and related businesses. The system consists of the banks for cooperatives, the farm credit banks, and the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation. It is supervised by the Farm Credit Administration and was Originally capitalized by the federal government. The system is now self-funding and owned by its member-borrowers.

federal food stamp act A federally funded program that provides needy families with financial assistance in obtaining a nutritionally adequate diet. The Secretary of Agriculture administers the Act.

federal government See GOVERNMENT.

federal government- 1. A national government that exercises some degree of control over smaller political units that have surrendered some degree of power in exchange for the right to participate in national political matters. - Also termed (in federal states) central government. 2. The U.S. government. Also termed national government.

federal highway administration An agency in the U.S. Department of Transportation responsible for granting aid to states for highway construction and improvement; providing matching grants to states for highwaysafety programs; uniformity among the states in commercial motor-carrier registration and taxation; regulating the safety of motor carriers operating in interstate commerce; and training employees of state and local agencies engaged in highway work backed by federal aid. Abbr. FHWA.

federal home loan bank One of 12 federally chartered banks created in 1932 to extend secured loans (advances) to savings institutions that are members of the system and to community financial institutions that finance small businesses, small farms, and small agribusinesses. The banks are supervised by the Federal Housing Finance Board. - Abbr. FHLB. Sometimes shortened to home loan bank.

Federal Home Loan Bank See FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK.

federal home loan bank board See FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE BOARD.

federal home loan mortgage corporation A corporation that purchases both conventional and federally insured first mortgages from members of the Federal Reserve System and other approved banks. - Abbr. FHLMC. - Also termed Freddie Mac.

federal housing administration The HUD division that encourages mortgage lending by insuring mortgage loans on homes meeting the agency's standards. -Abbr. FHA. See DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

federal housing finance board A five-member independent federal board that supervises the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks .o Formerlv known as the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, it was established by the Federal Home Loan Bank Act of 1932. That Act was amended by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989. 12 USCA §§ 1421 et seq.

federal instrumentality 1. A means or agency used by the national government. 2. A national agency or other entity immune from state control.

federal insurance contributions act The federal act imposing the sOcial-security tax on employers and employees. IRC (26 USCA) §§ 3101-3127. Abbr. FICA.

federal intermediate credit bank One of a system of twelve regional banks created in 1923 to discount obli-gations of agricultural credit corporations and similar institutions making short-term loans to farmers and ranchers .o The system is now merged with federal land banks to create the federal farm-credit system.

federal intermediate credit bank- See BANK.

federal judicial center An agency in the judicial branch of the federal government responsible for researching judicial administration and for training judges and employees of the federal judiciary. Its director is appointed by a seven-member board presided over by the Chief Justice of the United States. 28 USCA § 620. - Abbr. FJC.

federal jurisdiction 1. The exercise of federalcourt authority. 2. The area of study dealing with the jurisdiction of federal courts.

federal jurisdiction See JURISDICTION.

federal kidnapping act A federal law punishing kidnapping for ransom or reward when the victim is transported interstate or internationally. The law presumes that a victim has been transported in violation of the law if the victim is not released within 24 hours. The Federal Kidnapping Act, by express provision, does not apply to the kidnapping of a minor by either parent. The law was enacted in 1932 after the son of aviator Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped and murdered. For this reason, it is also termed the Lindbergh Act. 18 USCA § 1201. - Also termed Lindbergh Act. Cf. PARENTAL KIDNAPPING PREVENTION ACT. "The Federal Kidnapping Act was passed in 1932 to dose a dangerous loophole between state and federal law. At that time, marauding bands of kidnappers were preying upon the wealthy with ruthless abandon, seizing their victims for ransom while operating outside the reach of existing state laws. Knowing that authorities in the victim's home state were powerless once a hostage was transported across state lines, the criminals would kidnap their target in one state, then move quickly to the next. In response, Congress made kidnapping a federal crime when the victim was moved from one state to another, and comprehensive language was used to cover every possible variety of kidnapping followed by interstate transportation." 1 Am. Jur. 2d Abduction and Kidnapping § 14, at 185 (1994).

federal labor relations authority An agency that protects the right of federal employees to organize, engage in collective bargaining, and select their own union representatives. It was established under Reorganization Plan No.2 of 1978 and began operating in 1979.5 USCA §§ 7101-35. - Abbr. FLRA.

federal labor union See UNION.

federal land See LAND.

federal land (usu. pl.) Land owned by the United States government. Federal lands are classified as public lands (also termed "lands in the public domain") or acquired federal lands, depending on how the land was obtained. See acquired federal land.