humanities sem 2 exam revision

civics and Citizenship & Business

court jurisdiction

Jurisdiction determines which court has the rightful power to handle a legal dispute.

Magistrates’ Court

Handles minor legal matters. This includes low-level crimes (like traffic offences or shoplifting) and small civil disputes. There are no juries here.

County Court

Handles mid-level matters. This includes serious crimes (like armed robbery or sexual assault) and commercial disputes involving larger amounts of money.

Supreme Court

Handles the most serious state matters. This includes the gravest crimes (like murder), major complex lawsuits, and appeals from the lower courts.

High Court

The highest court in Australia. It does not hear trials; instead, it interprets the Constitution and hears final appeals from all other courts across the country.

Jury

The jury is a panel of 12 ordinary citizens selected at random from the community. They act as the independent "finders of fact" in the trial.

The Prosecution

The prosecution represents the State or the Crown, not the victim of the crime. Their ultimate goal is to ensure justice is served, rather than simply winning a conviction.

The Defence

The defence represents the accused person (the defendant). Their role is to protect the accused's legal rights and test the strength of the prosecution’s case.

Judge

decides the law (What evidence is allowed? What rules apply?) and determines the sentence (punishment) if the jury delivers a guilty verdict.

Punishment

Making offenders face consequences for their crimes to show that breaking the law has consequences.

Deterrence

Discouraging offenders and others from committing crimes by showing the consequences.

Rehabilitation

Helping offenders change their behaviour through education, support and treatment to prevent reoffending.

protection

Keeping the community safe by preventing dangerous offenders from harming others.

Denunciation

Showing society's disapproval of criminal behaviour and making it clear that the crime is unacceptable.

Victim Impact Statement

A written or spoken statement made by a victim explaining how a crime has affected their life, including emotional, physical and financial impacts.

victim impact statement purpose

Allow victims to explain how the crime has affected them emotionally, physically and financially, helping the judge understand the harm caused when deciding the sentence.

Aggravating factors

Factors that make a crime more serious and can lead to a harsher sentence, e.g. using a weapon, causing serious injuries, targeting a vulnerable victim or having previous convictions.

Mitigating factors

Factors that make a crime less serious and may lead to a lighter sentence, e.g. showing remorse, having no previous convictions, being young or pleading guilty.

Fines

Money that an offender must pay as punishment for breaking the law.

Community Correction Orders

A sentence where offenders stay in the community but must follow rules, such as community work, counselling or supervision.

Imprisonment

Sending an offender to prison for a set period of time as punishment for their crime.