Chapter 1: What Is Law?

Question 1

law

Answer 1

set of rules that regulates conduct; these rules are backed by the force of the state

Question 2

jurisprudence

Answer 2

the study of law

Question 3

goals of the legal system (7)

Answer 3

• protecting basic human rights
• promoting fairness
• helping resolve conflicts
• promoting order and stability
• promoting desirable social and economic behavior
• representing the will of the majority
• protecting the rights of the minority

Question 4

values (4)

Answer 4

• economic
• social
• political
• moral

Question 5

economic values

Answer 5

• accumulation, preservation, use, and distribution of wealth
• encouraging/discouraging certain evonomic decisions

Question 6

social values

Answer 6

issues important to society

Question 7

political values

Answer 7

reflect relationship between government and individuals

Question 8

moral values

Answer 8

fundamental questions of right or wrong

Question 9

criminal law

Answer 9

regulates public conduct and sets out duties iwed to society

Question 10

crime

Answer 10

act or failure to act that violates a law and for which the government has a set penalty

Question 11

misdemeaner

Answer 11

• less serious crime

* prison term of 1 yr or less

Question 12

felony

Answer 12

• more serious crimes

* penalty is a term of more than 1 yr in prison

Question 13

criminal case: government/state vs lawyers

Answer 13

prosecution vs district attorney

Question 14

beyond a reasonable doubt

Answer 14

if the jury (or judge) has any reasonable doubts about the defendant’s guilt, then it must vote not to convict

Question 15

civil law

Answer 15

regulates relations between individuals or groups

Question 16

civil action

Answer 16

lawsuit that can be brought by a person who feels wronged or injured by another person

Question 17

class action

Answer 17

lawsuit brought by one or more plaintiffs on behalf of a larger group

Question 18

liability

Answer 18

having responsibility for one’s actions

Question 19

judgement

Answer 19

the decision made in a civil case

Question 20

preponderance of the evidence

Answer 20

the jury (or judge) needs only to decide if it is more likely than not that the plaintiffs complaint is true