Law and Society Terms

2. traditional indigenous rules that outline the correct way of living
6. rules applicable to people in the armed forces
7. Disorder or confusion due to the absence of government or laws
8. system of law based on the previous decisions of judges or precedents
14. a previous legal decision that serves as a rule or pattern in future cases
15. deals with disputes between private citizens
16. to bring a civil action against another person for causing damage or injury
18. A document which sets out how an organization or a country will be governed
22. to treat somebody differently or less favourably because of his or her personal characteristics, such as gender, ethnicity or religion
23. the party that commences a civil action
24. a court official who hears cases in the lowest court of law
25. a process to determine whether someone committed a criminal act or caused another person loss
26. a civil wrong
27. The standard of proof required in a criminal trial
30. a decision made by the head of state to dissolve both houses of parliament

1. a grading system based on the order of importance
3. deals with disputes that affect the community
4. To release an accused person who is awaiting trial
5. The standard of proof in civil trials
9. the party bringing a criminal action against the accused; usually the state
10. A place where people can resolve disputes relating to law
11. A hearing in a local court to decide whether there is enough evidence to put a person on trial for an indictable (serious) offence
12. Equal opportunity for all people to make use of the legal system
13. a set of legal rules
16. laws made by parliaments
17. the party in a criminal or civil trial against whom an action has been brought
19. System in which two opposing parties present their arguments to a magistrate or a judge
20. a serious criminal offence
21. a court official who has the power to make decision on matters brought before a court of law
28. An application for a legal decision to be reviewed in higher court
29. a group of people (either 12 or 6) selected to hear the evidence in a court case