Law/Justice Flashcards
(21 cards)
Pass a law
Approving new laws to be put into practice
The government is responsible for passing laws, and the courts and legal system are in charge of uploading and enforcing the law.
Enforce a law
applying the law to the population
The government is responsible for passing laws, and the courts and legal system are in charge of uploading and enforcing the law.
Charged with a crime
Formally accused of the crime
When a person is charged with a crime, he or she must appear in court to stand trial.
Stand trial
Be judged guilty or innocent
When a person is charged with a crime, he or she must appear in court to stand trial.
Reach a verditct
Arrive at a decision
In court, both the prosecution and the defense will present their cases before the judge and jury. After consideration, the judge or jury will reach a verdict.
Irrefutable, overwhelming, or concrete evident
If there is irrefutable, overwhelming, or concrete evidence, this means that it is very obvious that the person committed the crime, and it’s possible that the jury will be unanimous in their decision.
Unanimous
If there is irrefutable and concrete evidence, it’s possible that the jury will be unanimous in their decision.
Circumstantial or inconclusive evidence
The evidence does not 100% prove the conclusion
If the evidence is circumstantial or inconclusive, then the decision will be more difficult for the jury.
Hung jury
If the evidence is circumstantial or inconclusive, then the decision will be more difficult - it’s possible to have a hung jury, which cannot agree on the verdict.
Light sentence
A small punishment
Less serious crimes will receive a light sentence - for example, the offender may have to pay a fine or do community service.
Pay a fine
Do community service
Less serious crimes will receive a light sentence - for example, the offender may have to pay a fine or do community service.
Go to prison
For more serious crimes, the person will probably go to prison - and especially heinous crimes can result in a harsh sentence such as life in prison, or in some places, the death penalty.
Harsh sentence
Heinous crimes can result in a harsh sentence such as life in prison, or in some places, the death penalty.
Life in prison
Death penalty
Heinous crimes can result in a harsh sentence such as life in prison, or in some places, the death penalty.
Appeal the verdict
Try to change the decision
After the decision is made, the lawyers can choose to appeal the verdict and the case may turn into a prolonged legal battle as the courts deicide whether to uphold or overturn the original verdict.
Prolonged legal battle
After the decision is made, the lawyers can choose to appeal the verdict and the case may turn into a prolonged legal battle as the courts decide whether to uphold or overturn the original verdict.
Uphold
Overturn
Uphold means to continue with the original decision
Overturn means to change the decision
After the decision is made, the lawyers can choose to appeal the verdict, and the case may turn into a prolonged legal battle as the courts decide whether to uphold or overturn the original verdict.
Convicted criminal
As a convicted criminal is serving time, he or she should remember the possibility of being released from prison early for good behavior.
Serving time
As a convicted criminal is serving time, he or she should remember the possibility of being released from prison early for good behavior.
Threat to society
Prisoners should remember the possibility of being released from prison early for good behavior, as long as they are not deemed a threat to society.
On parole
A criminal who is released early is said to be “on parole”, meaning that he or she must comply with certain conditions after getting out of jail - such as getting a job and refraining from drug/alcohol use.
