Types of LawTypes of Law

Criminal LawCriminal Law laws that seek to prevent people from deliberately or laws that seek to prevent people from deliberately or

recklessly harming each other or each others propertyrecklessly harming each other or each others property tried in courtroom in which lawyers from opposing sides try tried in courtroom in which lawyers from opposing sides try

to present their stronger casesto present their stronger cases adversarial processadversarial process

judges should be impartial and be fair to each sidejudges should be impartial and be fair to each side Government is always the plaintiff, or party that brings Government is always the plaintiff, or party that brings

charges against the alleged criminalcharges against the alleged criminal The defendant is a group or person accused of a crimeThe defendant is a group or person accused of a crime Felonies are serious crimes such as murder, rape, Felonies are serious crimes such as murder, rape,

kidnapping, and robberykidnapping, and robbery Misdemeanors are offenses such as vandalism, stealing Misdemeanors are offenses such as vandalism, stealing

inexpensive items, etc.inexpensive items, etc. Punished with a fine or a jail sentence of less than one yearPunished with a fine or a jail sentence of less than one year

Civil LawCivil Law disputes between people or groups of people, in disputes between people or groups of people, in

which no criminal laws have been brokenwhich no criminal laws have been broken LawsuitLawsuit

Legal action in which a person or group sues to collect Legal action in which a person or group sues to collect damages for some harm that is donedamages for some harm that is done

TortTort Legal action when a person has suffered an injury and Legal action when a person has suffered an injury and

claim that another party is responsible due to claim that another party is responsible due to negligencenegligence

Family lawFamily law Deals with family issue and problems such as divorce, Deals with family issue and problems such as divorce,

child custody, adoption, alimony, child support, and child custody, adoption, alimony, child support, and spouse and child supportspouse and child support

Constitutional LawConstitutional Law

involves rights guaranteed under the involves rights guaranteed under the Constitution, amendments, Constitution, amendments, congressional legislationcongressional legislation

Administrative LawAdministrative Law

involves all rules and regulations that involves all rules and regulations that government agencies of the government agencies of the executive branch must issue to carry executive branch must issue to carry out their jobsout their jobs

Statutory LawStatutory Law

deals with law written by a legislative deals with law written by a legislative branch of governmentbranch of government

examples: setting speed limits, examples: setting speed limits, specifying rules for inspecting food specifying rules for inspecting food products, setting minimum age to products, setting minimum age to obtain a work permit, etc.obtain a work permit, etc.

International LawInternational Law

involves treaties, customs, and involves treaties, customs, and agreements among nationsagreements among nations