The Legal System

Question 1

What do Civil Courts do? Give three examples.

Answer 1

Civil courts resolve disputes between individual citizens under civil law. E.g. disputes over payment of money, provision of services, and family matters.

Question 2

What is the Judiciary?

Answer 2

The Judiciary is part of a country’s government that is responsible for its legal system and that consists of all the judges in its courts of law.

Question 3

What do criminal courts do? Give five examples.

Answer 3

Criminal courts deal with offenses against the criminal law. E.g. murder, robbery, fraud, speeding, and dropping litter.

Question 4

What is the High Court and what does it do?

Answer 4

The High Court hears more substantial civil claims (over around £25,000).

Question 5

Who is the Crown Prosecution Service?

Answer 5

The CPS, a government agency, decides whether criminal proceedings, which have been started by the police, should progress to court.

Question 6

What is the County Court and what do they do? Give five examples.

Answer 6

The County Court, or Small Claims court deals with civil matters such as:
1. Claims for debt repayment
2. Personal injury
3. Breach of control: goods or property.
4. Family issues: divorce or adoption.
5. Housing disputes: mortgage, council rent arrears and repossession.

Question 7

What are the four Inns of Court?

Answer 7

Gray’s Inn,
Lincoln’s Inn,
Middle Temple,
Inner Temple.

Question 8

What is a bench?

Answer 8

A bench is a panel of three magistrates assigned to hear a case in the magistrates court.