Legal Definitions - plain-language movement

Plain-Language Movement

The plain-language movement refers to a widespread and ongoing effort by individuals and organizations to promote and implement clear, concise, and easily understandable writing, particularly within legal, governmental, and business contexts. Its core objective is to eliminate overly complex jargon, convoluted sentence structures, and "legalese" from important documents, ensuring that educated adults without specialized training can comprehend critical information accurately and efficiently, without sacrificing precision or completeness.

Here are some examples of the plain-language movement in action:

• Rewriting Government Regulations: Consider a federal agency responsible for environmental protection. Historically, its regulations were published using highly technical scientific terms, lengthy legalistic clauses, and complex cross-references that even experts found challenging to navigate. Embracing the plain-language movement, the agency undertakes an initiative to rewrite these regulations. The revised documents use simpler vocabulary, shorter sentences, and clear headings, making it easier for businesses, local governments, and the public to understand their obligations and rights regarding environmental compliance. This demonstrates the movement's goal of making essential public information accessible and actionable.

• Simplifying Financial Disclosures: Imagine a bank that decides to overhaul its mortgage loan agreements and disclosure statements. Previously, these documents were dense, filled with obscure financial jargon and legal boilerplate that most borrowers struggled to understand. Influenced by the plain-language movement, the bank redesigns these materials to present key terms like interest rates, fees, and repayment schedules using straightforward language, clear tables, and visual aids. This allows potential homeowners to genuinely understand the terms of their loan before committing, fostering greater transparency and informed decision-making.

• Clarifying Legal Instructions for Jurors: A state court system, recognizing the challenges jurors face, implements a program to rewrite jury instructions. Traditionally, these instructions were drafted by lawyers for lawyers, using complex legal terminology and lengthy sentences that could confuse laypeople. Through the plain-language movement, the court system develops new instructions that explain legal concepts, the burden of proof, and the elements of a crime or civil claim in simple, direct language. This ensures that jurors can better understand their duties and the law they must apply, leading to fairer and more consistent verdicts.