Vocab
A person who brings charges against another in court
Plaintiff
A court with no lawyers, no jury, and fewer steps to go through is a...
Small Claims Court
A set of rules and standards by which a society governs itself is known as....
Law
Disputes between two or more individuals or between individuals and governments is known as..
Civil Law
An act that breaks criminal law and causes injury or harm to people or society is known as....
a crime
A court that hears cases about crimes like burglary, murder, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Criminal Trial Court
A law written by the legislative branch
Statute
A minor crime that is usually punished by a fine or jail sentence of less than a year
Misdemeanor
Negligence, and intentional harm can fall under what type of Civil Law?
Torts or Civil Wrongs
Relationships involving marriage, divorce, or custody issues
Family Law
Getting a ticket for parking illegally is an example of...
a Petty Offense
A court that hears cases where one person or group thinks another person or group should pay for causing harm
Civil Trial Court
The person against whom a civil or criminal suit is brought in court
Defendent
A set of voluntary promises, enforceable by law, between two or more parties
Contract
Judges comparing new cases to old cases to help them make their decision would fall under which type of law?
Common Law
Discrimination against someone trying to buy a house would fall under what type of civil law?
Property Law
Being drunk or disorderly in public is an example of what kind of crime?
A Misdemeanor
True or False: A person may be arrested without a warrant if the police catch him/her in the act or have a reasonable suspicion that they committed a crime.
True
A group of citizens who hear evidence during a trial and give a verdict
Jury
A minor crime usually punished by a ticket rather than being arrested.
Petty Offense
"Innocent until proven guilty" is an example of what Legal System Principle?
Presumption of Innocence
Any wrongful act other than a breach of contract, for which the injured party has a right to sue for damages
Tort/Civil Wrong
Manslaughter is an example of what kind of crime?
a Felony
A person pleading guilty to a lesser crime is known as....
Plea Bargaining
The punishment to be imposed on an offender after a guilty verdict
Sentence
An official notice of a lawsuit that includes the date, time, and place of the initial court appearance.
Summons
An early system of 282 laws, written by a Babylonian King.
The Code of Hammurabi
Name three conditions needed for a person to sign a contract.
-Being mentally competen
-being of legal age in most cases
-cannot sell anything illegal
What is an example of punishment for a felony?
Jail sentence for more than a year, death penalty, loss of certain rights, loss of job opportunities
Name all four pleas that a person can enter at an arraignment
What is Guilty, Not Guilty, Not Guilty by insanity, No Contest