Starter quiz
- Which layer of the justice system is missing from this list? Courts, police and ...
- 'laws' ✓
- What is the definition of a law?
- a proposed rule under consideration by Parliament
- rules that are used to order the way in which a society behaves ✓
- a formal legal institution where disputes are heard and resolved
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- Who does the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) represent?
- Parliament
- the Government
- the monarch ✓
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- Match the different law enforcers with their roles.
- jury⇔to decide if a person accused of a crime is innocent or guilty ✓
- police⇔to protect the public, arrest lawbreakers and collect evidence ✓
- probation officers⇔write reports for the court and supervise offenders back into society ✓
- What two roles does Parliament have in making laws?
- create and review ✓
- propose and enforce
- review and implement
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- Which statement is true?
- The police play a key role in enforcing the law; others are involved too. ✓
- The police are the only ones responsible for enforcing the law.
- Only the courts play a role in enforcing the law, not the police.
- Enforcing the law is solely the responsibility of local authorities.
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Exit quiz
- Match the definitions to the correct words.
- civil law⇔deals with disputes between individuals or groups ✓
- criminal law⇔defines and regulates offences against society or the state ✓
- What is the term used for someone who is being tried in either civil or criminal courts?
- defendant ✓
- claimant
- accuser
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- Complete this sentence. ______ law cases are heard in a magistrates court.
- 'Criminal' ✓
- What type of cases does the high court deal with?
- 'civil law ' ✓
- Which court is the highest court in the UK?
- magistrates court
- crown court
- Supreme Court ✓
- high court
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- Which is the odd one out?
- summary offences
- refusal offences ✓
- either way offences
- indictable offences
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Worksheet
Presentation
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- In a criminal law case, the person charged with an offence is called the defendant. The CPS brings the case.
- In a civil law case, the person who brings the case is called the claimant. The accused is called the defendant.
- Civil cases are heard in either county or high courts.
- Criminal cases are heard in either magistrates or crown courts.
- Both criminal and civil cases can be heard in the court of appeal or Supreme Court.
Common misconception
Criminal law and civil law are always handled in the same courts.
Criminal cases are typically heard in criminal courts, while civil cases are dealt with in civil courts; each have different procedures and purposes.
Keywords
Civil law - law that deals with disputes between individuals or groups; there are civil courts which award damages (a money payment)
Criminal law - law that deals with individuals who break the law and seeks to punish an offence, because the offender has broken laws that Parliament has stated that we must all obey
Law - rules, usually made by Parliament, that are used to order the way in which a society behaves
Offence - an act or behaviour that violates a law and is punishable by the legal system
Court - a formal legal institution where disputes are heard and resolved, and where justice is administered according to the law