Hệ Thống Pháp Luật
Criminal and Civil Law
The UK legal system has two main branches: criminal law and civil law.
Criminal law deals with offences against society. The state (the Crown) prosecutes the accused. In England and Wales, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decides on charges; in Scotland, the Procurator Fiscal does. Punishments include fines, community service, or imprisonment.
Civil law handles disputes between individuals or organisations — contracts, property, family matters (divorce, child custody), personal injury, and employment. The claimant seeks a remedy (usually financial compensation). The standard of proof is "on the balance of probabilities," lower than the criminal standard of "beyond reasonable doubt."
The UK has three separate legal systems: England and Wales (shared), Scotland (distinct — includes a "not proven" verdict), and Northern Ireland (separate but similar to England and Wales).
In England and Wales, Magistrates' Courts handle minor criminal cases, the Crown Court tries serious cases with judge and jury, the County Court handles most civil disputes, the High Court takes complex cases, the Court of Appeal hears appeals, and the Supreme Court is the highest court with binding decisions.
Jury service is a legal duty for those aged 18-75 on the electoral register. Juries have 12 members in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and 15 in Scotland.
Legal aid provides government funding for those who cannot afford legal representation, based on income and case type.
The Human Rights Act 1998 incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) into UK law, protecting rights including: the right to life, fair trial, freedom of expression, private and family life, freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, and freedom from torture.
Criminal law deals with offences against society; the Crown prosecutes
Civil law deals with disputes between individuals or organisations
England & Wales share one legal system; Scotland and Northern Ireland each have separate systems
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the UK
Jury service is a duty for those aged 18-75 on the electoral register; juries have 12 members (15 in Scotland)
The Human Rights Act 1998 incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law
Từ vựng
Law dealing with crimes against society
Law dealing with disputes between individuals or organisations
A court that handles minor criminal and some civil cases
A court that handles serious criminal cases with judge and jury
The highest court in the UK
The duty of sitting on a jury to decide the outcome of a trial
Government funding to help people with legal costs
Tóm tắt bài học
- Criminal law: offences against society, prosecuted by the Crown (CPS in England/Wales, Procurator Fiscal in Scotland)
- Civil law: private disputes judged "on the balance of probabilities"; criminal standard is "beyond reasonable doubt"
- Three separate legal systems: England & Wales, Scotland (includes "not proven" verdict), and Northern Ireland
- Courts: Magistrates' Court, Crown Court, County Court, High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court (highest)
- Jury service is a legal duty for ages 18-75; juries have 12 members (England/Wales/NI) or 15 (Scotland)
- The Human Rights Act 1998 protects rights including life, fair trial, freedom of expression, and freedom from torture