Legal Definitions - journal

A journal is a book where daily entries or events are recorded. The term "journal" can also refer to:

• Statutes: A daily record of the proceedings and transactions of a legislative body or organization. For example, the U.S. Constitution requires each House to keep a journal of its proceedings and publish it from time to time.
• Maritime law: A book kept on board a ship/vessel that contains an account of the ship's course during the voyage.

For instance, in the context of statutes, the journal is a record of the activities of a legislative body. The U.S. Constitution requires each House to keep a journal of its proceedings, including the yeas and nays of the members on any question. In the context of maritime law, the journal is a record of the ship's course during the voyage.