American Law: Intro to Law Test Part 1

Civil action

A person or company who sues another to fix a wrong, settle a dispute, or get paid for

Deposition

A testimony given by a witness or party to a lawsuit

Criminal law

Rules that deal with harmful acts to society

Jury

People selected and charged with the task of determining the facts and applying the law in a particular case.

Unanimous jury

Every single person otherwise known as a juror must agree on the final verdict

Misdemeanor

Low level criminal offense

Felony

A high level criminal offense

Judicial branch

Part of government that interprets the laws, applies them to specific cases, and decided if they agree with the constitution

Ordinances

A country or city or city law

Statues

Written laws enacted

Executive branch

Carries out and enforces laws

Local law

City statue or regulation authoritative command or order

State law

State statue or regulation to specific state.

Federal Laws

Nationwide statue or regulation that are applied to everyone in the United States

Criminal Law (Chart)

Public Wrong

Civil Law (Chart)

Private Wrong

Criminal (7 types of law)

Body of rules and regulations which define and specify punishments for public offense or wrongs against the state/society

Civil (7 types of law)

Regulates non criminal relationships between persons, businesses, government agencies, and relationships between parties.

Common (7 types of law)

Judge decisions and previous court cases rather than written rules made by lawmakers

Case Law (7 types of Law)

When a judge creates a legal precedent; judge interprets and applies the law to a particular case; Judge use decision as precedent for future cases

Procedural (7 types of law)

law that specifies methods used in enforcing substantive law

Tort Law (7 types of law)

Damage, injury, or wrongful act done willfully or negligently, for which a civil suit can be brought

Satutory law (7 types of law)

Laws that affect our daily lives; law concerning credit rights, rules of the road, right to leave our property to others, etc.

Beyond a reasonable doubt

Proof that is needed to be done by all jurors and if not fully agreed upon it becomes a hung jury (99.99% of evidence may not be shown)

Plaintiff

In a case, the injured party who brings legal action against the alleged wrongdoer

Prosecutor

The state or federal governments attorney in a criminal case

Defendant

The person against whom a claim is made.

Adversary process

Allows opposing parties to present their legal conflicts before an impartial judge and jury

Cases are decided beyond a reasonable doubt

Criminal

Cases result in a financial settlement

Civil

Cases are decided by the entire jury 12-0 for a guilty or not guilty verdict

Criminal

Both sides present their evidence in the trial

Both criminal and civil

The case can be appealed to a higher court that would reverse or affirm trial outcome

Both criminal and civil