Civil/Criminal and State/Federal Courts

The person against whom a claim is made. In a civil suit, the defendant is the person being sued; in a criminal case, the defendant is the person charged with committing a crime

• Defendant

• Plaintiff

• Judge

• Jury

a person who brings a case against another in a court of law

• Plaintiff

• Defendant

• Judge

• Jury

the level of proof required to convict a person of a crime. It does not mean "convinced 100 percent," but it does mean there are no reasonable doubt as to guilt

• Beyond Reasonable Doubt

• Preponderance of the Evidence

• Eye Witness Testimony

• 5th Amendment

Usually the standard of proof used in a civil suit; the burden of proof that a party must meet in order to win the lawsuit. To win, a party must provide evidence that is more convincing than the other side's evidence

• Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

• Preponderance of the Evidence

• Jury

• Witness

Testifying against oneself in a legal action

• Self-incrimination

• Eye witness

• Prosecutor

• Defendant

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

• Constitution

• Absolute Monarchy

• Articles of Confederation

• Federalism

Article III of the US Constitution outlines the

• Judicial Branch

• Legislative Branch

• Executive Branch

• Tree Branch

the federal government has only those powers given to it by the Constitution

• Limited Jurisdiction

• General Jurisdiction

• 5th Amendment

• Articles of Confederation

The court that hears the majority of the cases (state) has

• Limited Jurisdiction

• General Jurisdiction

• Evidence

• 5th Amendment

The obligation to prove what is alleged.

• Burden of Proof

• Eye Witness Testimony

• 5th Amendment

• Articles of Confederation