Year 10 - Citizenship
What is the difference between criminal and civil law?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the legal system?
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
Pupils learn how laws are made and enforced and about the purpose and types of punishment.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to identify the difference between criminal and civil offences and explain how criminal and civil cases are dealt with.
Key Notes
- In a criminal law case, the person charged with an offence is called the defendant. The CPS brings the case.
- In a civil law case, the person who brings the case is called the claimant. The accused is called the defendant.
- Civil cases are heard in either county or high courts.
- Criminal cases are heard in either magistrates or crown courts.
- Both criminal and civil cases can be heard in the court of appeal or Supreme Court.
Vocabulary To Learn
- civil law: law that deals with disputes between individuals or groups; there are civil courts which award damages (a money payment)
- criminal law: law that deals with individuals who break the law and seeks to punish an offence, because the offender has broken laws that Parliament has stated that we must all obey
- law: rules, usually made by Parliament, that are used to order the way in which a society behaves
- offence: an act or behaviour that violates a law and is punishable by the legal system
- court: a formal legal institution where disputes are heard and resolved, and where justice is administered according to the law
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Criminal law and civil law are always handled in the same courts.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
In a criminal law case, the person charged with an offence is called the defendant. The CPS brings the case. In a civil law case, the person who brings the case is called the claimant. The accused is called the defendant.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'civil law'
law that deals with disputes between individuals or groups; there are civil courts which award damages (a money payment).
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Criminal law and civil law are always handled in the same courts. Correction: Criminal cases are typically heard in criminal courts, while civil cases are dealt with in civil courts; each have different procedures and purposes.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 10 Citizenship guide library.