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
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