Worksheets6. How Australia’s Legal System Aims to Provide Justice
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 13mins
What is the main goal of Australia’s legal system?
To protect only the government’s rights
To ensure justice is fair and consistent
To allow judges to make any decision they want
To stop people from going to court
What does the rule of law mean?
The government is more powerful than the law
The law applies to everyone equally
The police can ignore the law if needed
Only important people have to follow the law
Why is the rule of law important?
It prevents unfair use of power
It allows the government to punish people without reason
It means only politicians have to follow laws
It lets judges make laws on their own
What does presumption of innocence mean?
The police must prove someone is innocent
A person is innocent until proven guilty
Everyone accused of a crime is guilty
The accused must prove their own innocence
Why is the presumption of innocence important?
It stops people from being unfairly punished
It allows the police to arrest anyone without reason
It makes it easier to send people to prison
It only applies to certain crimes
Who has the burden of proof in a criminal case?
The person accused of the crime
The judge and jury
The prosecution (the side proving guilt)
The police officers who make the arrest
What does “beyond a reasonable doubt” mean?
Why is the burden of proof placed on the prosecution?
To make sure trials are fair
To make it easier to find people guilty
So the accused must prove they are innocent
To allow judges to ignore the law
What does the right to a fair trial mean?
A person is immediately punished for crimes
The trial must be fair, impartial, and within a reasonable time
Only serious crimes go to trial
People can only have a trial if they are wealthy
Which of the following is NOT part of a fair trial?
The right to be informed of the charges
The right to present a defence
The right to have a trial within a reasonable time
The right to avoid punishment if guilty
What does legal representation mean?
Having a lawyer to help during a trial
The accused must defend themselves
The judge decides who wins before the trial starts
Only the prosecution is allowed a lawyer
Why is the right to legal representation important?
It ensures individuals understand the law and their rights
It allows only rich people to have lawyers
It makes trials longer and more complicated
It means people do not need to follow laws
What is one reason someone might not get a fair trial?
If the judge listens to both sides equally
If the person is not given a chance to defend
What happens if someone is found guilty in a fair trial?
They are given a punishment according to the law
They are immediately released with no consequences
They are always sent to prison
They are given no chance to appeal
How do the presumption of innocence and burden of proof work together?
They ensure only guilty people are arrested
They make it harder to find people guilty
They protect individuals from unfair punishment
They let the accused avoid trials
Why does the legal system give people a chance to defend themselves in court?
To make trials longer
To give everyone a fair chance to prove their side
To allow the police to punish people faster
To let the government choose who wins cases
What would happen if there was no presumption of innocence?
Everyone accused of a crime would be treated as guilty
People would be given fair trials
More people would be able to defend themselves in court
It would be harder for judges to make decisions
Why is having a legal system based on fairness important?
It helps maintain public order and justice
It lets powerful people control the courts
It makes sure the government decides all cases
It prevents trials from happening
Which principle ensures that judges and juries do not assume a person is guilty before trial?
Right to legal representation
Burden of proof
Presumption of innocence
Rule of law
What do all the legal principles in Australia’s system aim to do?
Allow the government to control trials
Make the legal process unfair for the accused
Ensure justice is fair, consistent, and protects individual rights
Prevent anyone from defending themselves in court
