1. Notes # 9 “The Judicial Branch “Equal Justice under the law”

2. Checks and Balances Just like we learned yesterday that Congress makes the laws and the President gets to decide on them as well, so too does the Judicial Branch decide whether a law is Constitutional or not.

3. Different types of Law Just like Congress is split into committees and sub committees for the purpose of checking a new bill to make sure that it is Constitutional, so too is the court system split into several different branches.

4. Criminal Law If you commit a crime, like assault or theft, you are prosecuted under criminal law. These laws are designed to protect everyone, and are usually considered a Federal Law (which means you could face serious charges).

5. Civil Law If you want to sue someone, or get a restraining order, you would make a Civil Case against someone. Civil Law was created to split the difference between serious issues, like killing someone, from a less important issue, like your neighbors dogs barks to much.

6. Subcommittees? Both Criminal Law and Civil Law are broken down into further subcommittees. Its like in history when learning about the Revolution you mention George Washington, not ISIS.

7. Statutory Law These laws are passed by lawmakers. For instance, Congress passed a law saying you can’t kill anyone. As they are made by Congress, that majority of the people believe that killing someone is wrong.

8. Common Law These laws are made by Judges and other courts. They base them off of previous cases. Like Billy Bob got detention for talking, then when Sally See talks, she will get detention.

9. Administrative Law Laws made by an administration. Like the President appoints a person to make sure that no one lights themselves on fire. These laws govern a lot of what we do, and usually provide for our safety.

10. Constitutional Law These laws follow the Constitution itself. For instance, if someone wanted to ban guns, they would have to fight the Constitutional Law because of the 2 nd Amendment.

11. Partners? With a partner, complete the following. You and your partner will come up with a case that needs to be tried. Pick either Criminal or Civil. Tell me what the case is. Then, which (sub committee) would your case fall under. Just for fun, who wins the case, by law. If a criminal goes crazy and kills everyone, make sure that he does not win his case.