Commerce

Law

A set of legal rules established by the government, enforced by police and courts.

Ethics

Moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity.

Morality

A system of beliefs about what is right and wrong that guides behavior.

Inflexible

Not subject to change; rigidly fixed.

Criminal Law

The area of law that deals with crimes and their punishments.

Civil Law

The area of law that deals with disputes between individuals or organizations.

Boundaries

Limits that laws establish regarding acceptable behavior.

Protection

The role of laws in safeguarding individuals from harm.

Freedom

The ability to act, speak, or think without hindrance or restraint as provided by laws.

Adversarial System

A legal system where two opposing parties present their case to an impartial judge.

Appellate System

The jurisdiction of a court to hear appeals from lower courts.

High Court

The highest court in Australia, serving as the final court of appeal.

Local Court

The lowest level of court in the Australian court system handling minor civil and criminal matters.

District Court

An intermediate court that hears serious criminal matters and civil cases with higher compensation amounts.

Supreme Court

The highest court in a state, dealing with serious criminal and civil matters.

Family Court

A superior court that deals with issues arising from family relationships.

Coroner's Court

A court that investigates unexplained deaths and makes safety recommendations.

Children's Court

A court that deals specifically with matters involving minors.

Legislation

Laws enacted by parliament after passing through both houses.

Bill

A proposed law presented for debate in parliament.

Cabinet

A group of senior government ministers meeting to decide on major government issues.

Royal Assent

Formal approval by the Governor-General for a bill to become law.

Mens Rea

The mental state of intent to commit a crime.

Actus Reus

The physical act of committing a crime.

Defamation

A tort that involves damaging a person's reputation.

Negligence

A tort where a failure to exercise reasonable care results in harm.

Tort Law

The branch of law dealing with civil wrongs and their remedies.

Jury

A group of people sworn to render a verdict based on evidence presented.

Prosecutor

A legal representative who brings charges against an accused party.

Judge

A public official appointed to decide cases in a court of law.

Solicitor

A legal professional who provides advice and represents clients in legal matters.

Barrister

A lawyer who specializes in representing clients in court.

Sheriff

An official responsible for serving legal documents and maintaining order in the court.

Empanelling

The process of selecting jurors for trial.

Indictable Offence

A serious criminal offense that typically requires a trial by jury.

Summary Offence

A minor criminal offense that can be heard in the local court.

Constitution

A foundational legal document outlining the structure of government and rights.

Balance of Probabilities

The standard of proof used in civil cases.

Beyond Reasonable Doubt

The standard of proof required to convict someone in a criminal trial.

Coalition

A temporary alliance between political parties to achieve a majority.

Legal Personnel

Individuals such as judges, barristers, solicitors, and jurors involved in the legal process.

Committal Hearing

A proceeding held in local court to determine if there is sufficient evidence for a trial.