Criminal Law Terminology. The textbook this week provided you with a wealth of information about key concepts in the foundations of criminal justice. In your primary response for this discussion, explain the differences between a misdemeanor and a felony charge. Detail how the legal terms stare decisis and legal precedent affect criminal prosecutions. Finally, provide a definition in your own words, for the legal term, corpus delicti. Why does corpus delicti have to be proven for there to be an effective criminal prosecution?