Criminal vs. Civil Law
This type of law deals with crimes against society.
What is criminal law?
The first court where a case is heard.
What is a trial court?
The highest law of the land.
What is the U.S. Constitution?
Written laws passed by a legislature.
What are statutes?
People vote for leaders through this constitutional right.
What is voting?
This person brings a lawsuit in a civil case.
Who is the plaintiff?
A higher court that reviews decisions from lower courts.
What is an appeals court?
The principle that government only has powers given to it by the people.
What is limited government?
A proposed law before it becomes law.
What is a bill?
Citizens propose a law directly to voters through this process.
What is an initiative?
A felony is generally punishable by more than this amount of prison time.
What is more than one year?A felony is generally punishable by more than this amount of prison time
A court decision that future courts are expected to follow
What is precedent?
The division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
What is separation of powers?
The meaning lawmakers intended when they passed a law.
What is legislative intent?
Voters approve or reject a proposed law through this process.
What is a referendum?
This person is accused of committing a crime.
Who is the defendant?
The standard of proof used in criminal cases.
What is beyond a reasonable doubt?
Congress belongs to this branch of government.
What is the legislative branch?
Government agencies often create these to help carry out laws.
What are regulations?
Voters remove an elected official before the end of a term through this process.
What is a recall?
The O.J. Simpson case is often used to explain the difference between these two types of law.
What are criminal law and civil law?
The standard of proof used in most civil cases.
What is preponderance of the evidence?
The constitutional principle that allows each branch to limit the power of the others.
What are checks and balances?
Before many regulations become official, agencies hold these so citizens can give opinions.
What are public hearings?
Administrative agencies often regulate these types of things: food safety, hunting, fishing, and professional licenses.
What are public activities and government services?