Law

Question 1

What is criminal law?

Answer 1

Criminal law defines crimes and prescribes punishments for actions that threaten public safety.

Question 2

What are the main purposes of criminal law?

Answer 2

To deter crime, punish offenders, rehabilitate them, and protect society.

Question 3

What is actus reus?

Answer 3

The physical act or unlawful omission in a crime.

Question 4

What is mens rea? (Law)

Answer 4

The mental element or intention to commit a crime.

Question 5

What is strict liability? (Law)

Answer 5

Crimes that don’t require proof of mens rea.

Question 6

What is the presumption of innocence? (Law)

Answer 6

The principle that a person is innocent until proven guilty.

Question 7

Who has the burden of proof in criminal law? (Law)

Answer 7

The prosecution must prove guilt.

Question 8

What is the standard of proof in criminal cases? (Law)

Answer 8

Beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Question 9

What are summary offenses? (Law)

Answer 9

Minor crimes tried in the Magistrates’ Court.

Question 10

What are indictable offenses? (Law)

Answer 10

Serious crimes tried in the Crown Court.

Question 11

What are triable either-way offenses? (Law)

Answer 11

Crimes that can be tried in either Magistrates’ or Crown Court.

Question 12

What is the definition of murder? (Law)

Answer 12

Murder is the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought.

Question 13

What is the actus reus of murder? (Law)

Answer 13

The unlawful killing of a human being under the Queen’s peace.

Question 14

What is the mens rea for murder? (Law)

Answer 14

Intent to kill or cause grievous bodily harm (GBH).

Question 15

What is involuntary manslaughter? (Law)

Answer 15

A killing without intent to kill or cause GBH, often through gross negligence or unlawful acts.

Question 16

What constitutes an assault? (Law)

Answer 16

Causing another person to apprehend immediate unlawful violence.

Question 17

What is actual bodily harm (ABH)? (Law)

Answer 17

Assault or battery causing any injury that is more than transient or trifling.

Question 18

What is grievous bodily harm (GBH)? (Law)

Answer 18

Serious harm inflicted on a person, can be with intent (s.18) or without (s.20).

Question 19

What is self-defense? (Law)

Answer 19

The use of reasonable force to protect oneself or others from harm.

Question 20

What is voluntary manslaughter? (Law)

Answer 20

A killing with intent to kill or cause GBH, reduced by a partial defense like loss of control or diminished responsibility.

Question 21

What is the insanity defense? (Law)

Answer 21

A legal defense where the defendant was incapable of understanding the nature of the act due to mental disorder.

Question 22

What is duress? (Law)

Answer 22

A defense where the defendant was forced to commit a crime due to threats of death or serious harm.

Question 23

How does consent work as a defense? (Law)

Answer 23

Consent can be a defense for some non-fatal offenses, provided it’s informed and voluntary.

Question 24

What principle was established in R v Cunningham? (Law)

Answer 24

Established that recklessness requires the defendant to foresee the risk and proceed anyway.

Question 25

What principle was established in R v Smith? (Law)

Answer 25

Established that causation requires the defendant’s act to be a significant cause of the result.

Question 26

What principle was established in R v Brown? (Law)

Answer 26

Confirmed that consent is not a defense for ABH and GBH in sadomasochistic activities.