1. The Judicial Branch: Equal Justice Under the Law Chapter Seven

2. A Nation of Laws  Societies have rules or laws in order to promote the common good and protect its citizens.  These laws, keep people from feeling as though they can do anything they please to whomever they please  Laws protect YOU, your personal and physical safety as well as your property and freedom.  Laws set boundaries or limits on behavior.

3. Two Types of Law: Criminal Law  Criminal law refers to the group of laws:  That define what acts are crimes.  That describes how a person accused of a crime should be tried in court.  That describe how crimes should be punished.  A crime is any behavior that is illegal because society, through its government, considers the behavior harmful to society.

4. Two Types of Law: Criminal Law  Criminal laws are intended to protect society as a whole.  Examples, laws against:  Rape  Assault  Murder  Stealing

5. Two Types of Law: Civil Law  Civil law is the group of laws that refer to disputes between people.  Therefore, if someone has a dispute with another individual and they cannot solve it privately they can go to court to settle the matter.

6. Two Types of Law: Civil Law  Civil laws are intended to settle a wide range of personal issues.  Examples:  Contract disputes.  Divorce proceedings.  Property boundaries.

7. Four Sources of Law: Statutory Law  Laws that are passed by lawmaking bodies are known as statutes, or statutory law.  These laws are passed by Congress and state and local governments.  Statutory laws usually represent majority rule, or what the majority of citizens believe to be right or wrong.

8. Four Sources of Law: Common Law  Common law is a type of law that comes from judges’ decisions that rely on:  Common sense.  Traditions.  Customs.  Previous cases.

9. Four Sources of Law: Administrative Law  Administrative laws are created by government agencies instead of legislatures.  Administrative laws cover many areas of daily life, such as health, safety, education, and baking.

10. Four Sources of Law: Constitutional Law  The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States.  Constitutional law is based on the Constitution and on Supreme Court decisions interpreting the Constitution.

11. The Roles of the Courts  Courts use the four sources of law to settle disputes between:  People  People and the government  Governments  Society and an individual

12. Criminal Cases: The Rights of the Accused  The right to an attorney.  The right to confront the accuser.  The right to a jury trial.  Finally, if the accused is convicted of the crime he/she has the right to appeal the decision.  An appeal is the process by which the person asks a higher court to review the result of the trial.