Essential Elements of the Legal System Flashcards
What are the 3 main sources of English Law?
- Legislation
- Case law
- Custom
When taking legal action against a customer in respect of non-payment of a debt, what is the standard of proof required to be shown?
As this is a civil case, the standard of proof is on the balance of probabilities
In a criminal case being tried in Court, what is the standard of proof required to be shown by the prosecutor?
Beyond reasonable doubt
What part of a court’s decision is binding on similar later cases?
Ratio decidendi
The Crown Court only has criminal jurisdiction.
Is this statement true or false?
False, the Crown Court had limited civil appellate jurisdiction on matters such as bankruptcy and company winding-up
Which form of law has a tracking system comprising of the small, fast and multi-tracks?
Civil
Magistrates need only a basic qualification in law.
Is this statement true or false?
False, a magistrate can be a layman, i.e. one without any qualifications
What are the three divisions of the High Court?
- Queen’s Bench Division
- Chancery Division
- Family Division
Is the obiter dicta binding on any courts?
No, this part of the Court’s judgement is solely persuasive
What are the 3 rules of statutory interpretation?
- Literal rule
- Golden rule
- Mischief rule
Which rule of statutory interpretation requires judges to consider the wrong that the statute was seeking to prevent?
Mischief
What are examples of delegated legislation?
- Orders in council
- Bye-laws
- Statutory instruments
What are extrinsic aids to statutory interpretation?
- The Hansard
- The dictionary
- The Interpretations Act
- Books of authority
What are intrinsic aids to statutory interpretation?
- Title
- Preamble
- Schedules
What are the types of EU law?
- Treaties
- Regulations
- Directives
- Decisions
Which type of EU law is binding on each member state without the state Parliament implementing the law?
Regulations
Which type of law is used between private individuals, where one is seeking compensation, not punishment?
Civil
Criminal law is used by the State who is enforcing the law and is seeking punishment to act as a deterrent.
Is this statement true or false?
True
Does civil law require losses to be suffered?
Yes.
What civil jurisdiction does the Magistrate court have?
It has limited civil jurisdiction, hearing family proceedings
What type of criminal case is generally heard in the Crown Court?
Indictable offenses, where the decision is made by a jury and the sentence decided by a judge
What court is used to appeal decisions made in the Magistrates or Crown Courts?
Court of Appeal
Which court passes judgements that binds the lower courts, but not itself
Supreme Court
Which division of the High Court deals with contract and tort cases?
Queen’s Bench Division
Which divisional court hears appeals from the Commissioners of Inland Revenue and county courts?
Chancery Divisional Court
The Family Division deals with all matrimonial matters, both first instance and on appeal.
True or false?
True
Which track deals with claims that are less than £10k and there is no need for legal representation?
Small
What does stare decisis mean?
To stand by a decision
Can a magistrate court create precedents?
No
How can a judge challenge a precedent?
- Overruling
- Reversing
- Distinguishing
What are the stages primary legislation has to go through?
- Green Paper
- White Paper
- Parliament proceedings, done by both the House of Commons and then the House of Lords:
a. First Reading
b. Second Reading
c. Committee scrutiny
d. Report
e. Third Reading - Royal Assent
What are the types of primary legislation?
- Public acts
- Private acts
- Enabling acts
- Consolidating legislation
- Codifying legislation
What are the canons of statutory interpretation?
- Common law has not been altered
- There is no back dating of statute, i.e. it is not enforced retroactively
- The Crown is not bound
- There is no strict liability
- Ejusdem generis
What canon of statutory interpretation states that if the court is provided with a specific example and the act says “and other such things”, then the things are related to the specific example?
Ejusdem generis
Can a plaintiff ask for an eqiutable remedy?
No, common law remedies must be explored first, and, only if not deemed sufficient, can equitable remedies be used
When is the golden rule of statutory interpretation followed?
When application of the literal rule gives an absurd result
With regards to legislation, the green paper is for public consultation.
Is this statement true or false?
True
When legislation is being debated in parliament, it is in its White Paper stage.
Is this statement true or false?
No, the White Paper is considered the proposal for legislation for it to be considered at Parliament
What measures are used to control delegated legislation?
- The court can declare the legislation as ultra vires
- Parliament can revoke an enabling act
- Laying of the legislation before Parliament for 40 days
The Preamble of an Act gives specific examples of how the Act should be used.
Is this statement true or false?
False, the Preamble puts the Act into context
Which law prevails between common and equity?
Equity
What is contained within the Interpretation Act?
A list of commonly used phrases in legal acts along with their legal definitions
As it relates to interpreting legislation, what is the Hansard?
The Hansard is the Parliamentary journal
Can the Crown court create precedence?
No
Does consolidating legislation amend the original legislation?
No, it simply brings the original legislation together; codifying amends the originals
When comparing a current case with an earlier case in order to apply the principle of judicial precedent, the similarity should be a point of fact and not necessarily a point of law.
Is this statement true or false?
False
What name is given to an elected government body which makes decisions to put laws into action?
Executive
What courts can hear criminal case appeals from the magistrate’s court?
Crown Court
Queen’s Bench Divisional Court, by way of case stated on a point of law