Legal Foundations
What are the two main purposes of laws in Canadian society?
To maintain order and to protect rights.
What is the difference between civil and criminal law?
Civil law is between individuals; criminal law involves crimes against community/society.
What is the basis of French Civil Law?
Roman Law and French customs. Napoleonic law.
What does YCJA stand for?
Youth Criminal Justice Act
In what legal document is the Charter of Rights and Freedoms included?
The 1982 Constitution
What is the highest court in Canada?
The Supreme Court
What kind of law deals with contracts and broken agreements?
Contract Law (a branch of Civil Law).
In which province is the Civil Code used?
Quebec
What age group does the YCJA apply to?
Youth aged 12–18
Name one of the rights included in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
What are the three sources of the Canadian legal system?
Indigenous, French, and British traditions.
In criminal law, what are "indictable offences"?
Serious crimes tried by jury, such as murder.
What does "common law" rely on to make decisions?
Past judicial decisions or precedents.
What is the main goal of the YCJA?
Rehabilitation and reintegration
What is a responsibility you have as a Canadian citizen?
To vote, to serve as a jury, to promote culture, to protect the environment.
Name two things that must exist before someone can be prosecuted for breaking the law.
A law or legal document and substantial evidence.
What is "tort law"?
A law that deals with wrongdoing or harm caused by one person to another.
What is the goal of integrating Indigenous legal traditions into the system?
Recognition of self-government and land rights.
Under what condition can youth aged 14–18 be tried as adults?
For serious crimes, such as murder
What happened in 2007 regarding Truscott's case?
The Ontario Court of Appeal acquitted him.
What are the five principles of the legal system?
Habeas corpus, presumption of innocence, burden of proof, equality before the law, the right to a fair and speedy trial.
Give three examples that family law is concerned with.
Marriage, divorce, custody, adoption, and domestic relationships.
What is one key difference between common law and civil law?
Common law uses precedent; civil law follows a written code.
What is one reason media cannot name youth offenders?
To protect their identity and future reintegration.
What does the Truscott case highlight about the justice system?
The importance of fair trials and the danger of wrongful convictions.