11th Chapter Flashcards
What is the organisation of the police force in the UK?
No national police
but
50 or so separate forces
What is the name of the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service?
New Scotland Yard
What is the well-known nickname of a British police officer?
“Bobby”
Do British policemen carry guns?
No
What are Neighbourhood Watch Schemes?
Encouraging the people of a particular neighbourhood to keep their eyes open for anything suspicious
Explain and translate into Slovak the following terms: conditional/unconditional discharge, (on) probation community service death penalty life sentence acquitted bail convicted defendant on remand party plaintiff verdict
Podmienečne/Nepodmienečne V podmienke Verejnoprospešné práce Trest smrti Doživotný trest Zbavený Kaucia Usvedčený Obranca Vyšetrovacia väzba Strana Žalobca Rozsudok
What are the two kinds of court in the UK?
Magistrates’ courts
Crown Court
How does a magistrate’s court work?
Ordinary people who get their expenses paid and decide if the accused is guilty
Who are JPs?
Justices of the Peace
What are the two sides in criminal cases known as?
Prosecution
Defence
How are the members of a jury selected and what decision do they make?
At random from the list of voters
They decide if the defendant is guilty or not
How does a jury reach a verdict and what happens if they fail to do so?
At least 10 out of 12
The judge declares a mistrial and the case starts all over again with a different jury
How does the function of the judge differ from that of a jury?
Judge acts as a referee during the trial
Jury decides if the defendant is guilty or not
What is the highest court in Britain?
Supreme Court
What are the two types of lawyer in Britain and what is the main difference between them?
Solicitors and Barristers
Solicitors deal with the public
Barristers work in higher courts
How does the training of solicitors differ from that of barristers?
Separate training, Different exams
Solicitors - 2 year training contract with a firm of solicitors
Barristers - pupillage
Explain the terms call to the bar, take silk, QC
To the bar- presenting cases in a higher court
Take silk- to be appointed the rank of QC
QC- rank of Queen’s Counsel
What different legal knowledge and skills are typical of solicitors and barristers?
Solicitors - dealing with the everyday world
Barristers - becoming experts in arcane points of law, acquiring the special skill of eloquence in public speaking
Do solicitors and barristers need a university qualification?
Yes
Why do judges and barristers wear the archaic gown and wig in court?
It symbolizes the impersonal majesty of the law
Judges are appointed exclusively from the ranks of:
Barristers
What reinforces the independent (social) status of judges? (give 3 things)
Later retiring age
Very high salaries
Almost impossible for them to be dismissed
Is there a ministry of justice in the UK?
No
How does the legal system of Scotland differ from the rest of the UK?
Advocates instead of barristers
Verdict “not proven” which means the accused cannot be punished but not completely cleared of guilt
