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Worksheets

American Legal System

Total questions: 40

Worksheet time: 21mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the earliest known written code of law?

a)

The Magna Carta

b)

The Code of Hammurabi

c)

The Code of Caesar

d)

The Code of Washington

2.

In which document was the King of England forced to adopt laws made by the people? This document limited the King's power.

a)

The Mayflower Compact

b)

The Magna Carta

c)

The Code of Hammurabi

d)

The Declaration of Independence

3.

What do we call a universal set of moral principles believed to come from humans' basic sense of right and wrong?

a)

Natural Law

b)

Case Law

c)

Common Law

d)

Statutory Law

4.

What do we call the body of laws (meaning, all the laws) passed by Congress or a state legislature?

a)

Natural Law

b)

Common Law

c)

Case Law

d)

Statutory Law

5.

What do we call the body of laws (meaning, all the laws) that are based on previous legal decisions and customs? These were all created by judges.

a)

Natural Law

b)

Common Law

c)

Case Law

d)

Statutory Law

6.

What do we call the body of laws (meaning, all the laws) that are based on the outcome of previous court cases?

a)

Natural Law

b)

Common Law

c)

Case Law

d)

Statutory Law

7.

What is another name for a law made by a group of legislators?

a)

Statute

b)

Precedent

c)

Regulation

d)

Treatise

8.

What is a decision made by a court that serves as an example or guide for future decisions?

a)

Ruling

b)

Verdict

c)

Judgment

d)

Precedent

9.

This type of law concerns relationships between private parties where no crime has been committed?

a)

Public Law

b)

Constitutional Law

c)

Criminal Law

d)

Civil Law

10.

Which type of law defines crimes, provides punishment for criminal acts, and regulates the conduct of individuals?

a)

Criminal Law

b)

Civil Law

c)

Constitutional Law

d)

Administrative Law

11.

Which type of law is a special legal system made for the armed forces?

a)

Military Law

b)

Civil Law

c)

Criminal Law

d)

Environmental Law

12.

Which type of law is based on the United States Constitution and interpretations of it?

a)

Common Law

b)

Military Law

c)

Constitutional Law

d)

Case Law

13.

What is the type of law that applies to individuals under 18 years of age?

a)

Military Law

b)

Common Law

c)

Juvenile Law

d)

Case Law

14.

Which category of crimes is less serious and carries lighter legal penalties?

a)

Misdemeanor

b)

Felony

15.

Which category of crimes is more serious and carries harsher legal penalties?

a)

Misdemeanor

b)

Felony

16.

What is the principle that those who govern are also bound by the laws? - No one is above the law.

a)

Military Law

b)

Rule of Law

c)

Administrative Law

d)

Common Law

17.

What do we call legal action by one person against another in a court of law?

a)

Lawsuit

b)

Felony

c)

Precedent

d)

Misdemeanor

18.

Which document was the biggest INFLUENCE on some of our Constitutional rights like Trial by Jury and Due Process?

a)

Code of Hammurabi

b)

Bill of Rights

c)

Magna Carta

d)

Mayflower Compact

19.

Why was the Code of Hammurabi so significant?

a)

It helped strengthen government power.

b)

It gave different types of punishments for different groups of people.

c)

It made sure the laws were written down so citizens knew their rights and were protected.

d)

It made sure that every legal trial was given a jury of people to decide guilt or innocence.

20.

If a law is made governing what age and for how many years a child should attend school, what type of law is this?

a)

Statutory Law, because it was made by Congress.

b)

Common Law, because it came from a body of law created by judges.

c)

Constitutional law, because it helps interpret something in the Constitution.

d)

Case Law, because it came from a previous court decision.

21.

What is something that Criminal Trials and Civil Trials have in common?

a)

The defendant could possibly go to prison at the end of the trial.

b)

The parties have a disagreement about property damage.

c)

Two or more parties are opposing each other.

d)

Each party believes that a law was broken.

22.

The year is 2024. The Supreme Court is using a court case from 1988 to help decide how they should rule on the case they are working on right now. What type of law is this?

a)

Common Law

b)

Case Law

c)

Criminal Law

d)

Military Law

23.

In which type of case are you guaranteed a legal council (lawyer) even if you can't afford one?

a)

Criminal

b)

Civil

c)

Both

d)

Neither

24.

What is the purpose of a jury in the U.S. legal system?

a)

To hear evidence and decide what the punishment should be.

b)

To hear evidence and provide a decision of guilt or innocence based on the evidence.

c)

To hear evidence and try to come up with solutions to the problem.

d)

To hear evidence and decide if there should be a trial.

25.

If you are arrested and the government does not follow the proper legal procedures (such as reading you your Miranda Rights, providing you with a lawyer, etc.) what 5th amendment protection was violated?

a)

No Double Jeopardy

b)

No Self Incrimination

c)

Due Process

d)

Eminent Domain

26.

When one case overturns another case, this can be an example of:

a)

Military Law

b)

Natural Law

c)

Case Law

d)

Common Law

27.

Which type of case could be heard in both a State Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court?

a)

A case involving a driver running a stop sign.

b)

A case involving a dispute over someone plagiarizing their published work.

c)

A case involving an international treaty with another country.

d)

A case involving an issue having to do with the Constitution.

28.

Which of these is a Constitutional issue and would fall under Constitutional Law?

a)

A United States Air Force pilot flew into another country's airspace without permission.

b)

A customer fell down the stairs at a store because they weren't paying attention.

c)

A student was suspended from school because they criticized their school in a TikTok video.

d)

A person was arrested for breaking into his neighbor's house and stealing all of his spoons.

29.

The Code of Hammurabi was the first law code in history to:

a)

Treat a person as "guilty until proven innocent."

b)

Treat a person a "innocent until proven guilty."

c)

Treat a person as a Citizen of an empire.

d)

Treat a person as their own judge and jury.

30.

Who developed the Council of 500 and the concept of Democracy?

a)

The Greeks

b)

The Romans

c)

The Egyptians

d)

The Americans

31.

Who developed the Law of Twelve Tables - a record of fundamentals of law that was set in stone?

a)

The Greeks

b)

The Romans

c)

The Egyptians

d)

The Americans

32.

The Roman Law of 12 Tables is very similar to what American document?

a)

The Declaration of Independence

b)

The Constitution

c)

The Treaty of Versailles

d)

The Star Spangled Banner

33.

If a new law make something illegal, you cannot get in trouble for doing that thing before it became a law. This is known as:

a)

Ex Post Facto ("After The Fact")

b)

Habeas Corpus ("Bring Me The Body")

c)

Pro Bono Publico ("For the Public Good")

d)

Amicus Curiae ("Friend of the Court")

34.

What was one big reason Hammurabi's code was significant?

a)

It was the first law code to forbid the Quartering of Soldiers in your home.

b)

It was the first law code to introduce the idea of "No Self-Incrimination."

c)

It wasn't written anywhere, so people had to guess what the law was.

d)

It was the first written code of law.

35.

What is the only type of trial where an attorney will be provided for you if you can't afford one?

a)

Criminal Law (or Criminal Trial)

b)

Civil Law (or Civil Trial)

36.

Which of these types of trials are both PUBLIC?

a)

Military Law and Civil Law

b)

Civil Law and Criminal Law

c)

Criminal Law and Military Law

37.

If something violates one of your rights found in the Constitution's Bill of Rights (such as violating your freedom of speech, assembly, right to a lawyer, due process, etc.), what type of law would you be dealing with?

a)

Common Law

b)

Natural Law

c)

Statutory Law

d)

Constitutional Law

38.

What is the job of a jury?

a)

To hear evidence and make an unbiased decision.

b)

To decide what a defendant's punishment should be.

c)

To decide if laws are unconstitutional.

d)

To defend the defendant from State prosecution.

39.

Who is the "Defendant" in a trial?

a)

The defense attorney.

b)

The person who is being accused.

c)

The sheriff on duty in the court room.

d)

The party who is bringing the accusation against someone else.

40.

In a court case, who is the "Plaintiff?"

a)

The party who is bringing the accusation against someone else.

b)

The party who is accused.

c)

The prosecuting lawyer.

d)

The person chosen to be the leader of the jury.