Criminal and Civil Law (Judicial Branch)

Which situation would most likely lead to a criminal trial?

• Two homeowners disagree on the boundary between their properties.
• An auto mechanic ruins a car's engine and refuses to pay for the damage
• A person is caught leaving a store with a watch without paying for it
• A newspaper delivery person accidentally breaks a window.

A person suing another person in a civil case is called the

• Counsel
• Defendant
• Plaintiff
• Prosecutor

What legal tool is available to prisoners who believe they are being jailed illegally?

• An injunction
• A subpoena
• A plea-bargaining agreement
• A write of Habeas Corpus

What is the purpose of an indictment?

• To formally charge a person with a crime
• To advise a person of the right to remain silent
• To sentence a person who has been convicted
• To decide whether a person is guilty or not guilty

Which of these is the best example of plea bargaining in a criminal case?

• A defense attorney requests that the police release a suspect from jail.
• A defense attorney and a prosecutor negotiate the charges against a defendant.
• A judge questions the police about their reasons for requesting a search warrant
• A judge listens to a defendant's plea for leniency before pronouncing sentence

The prosecutor in a criminal case is the person who

• represents the defendant
• represents the government
• serves as head of the jury
• presides as judge

When a defendant was tried and found innocent of a crime, the state prosecutor was disappointed but could not legally try the case again. Doing so would violate the defendant's right to protection from

• Double jeopardy
• self-incrimination
• illegal search and seizure
• cruel and unusal punishment

A homeowner signed a written agreement with a roofing company to have an old roof replaced. In the United States legal system, this type of written agreement is called a

• contract
• misdemeanor
• negotiation
• tort

Which of these would most likely be indicted by a Maryland grand jury?

• A professional football player refusing to honor his contract
• A neighbor having a property dispute with another homeowner
• A car owner testifying about the theft of her car
• A person videotaped robbing a state bank

During wartime, the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in some areas allowing the arrest and holding of persons without charging them with a specific crime. Based on this event, which of these conclusions is accurate?

• The President lacks significant power during times of war.
• The military must provide constitutional protections
• Citizens may lose some civil rights during emergencies
• The Supreme Court must rule on presidential actions.