1. to be separate from [΄sepərət] ;
2. legislation [ˎleʤis΄leiʃən] - ; ; ;
3. Common Law - ( )
4. disagreements
5. individual
6. harm - ; , ,
7. case law -
8. precedent
9. court - ;
10. try ; try a case
11. judgment = judgement - 1) ; 2) () ; ; 3) ; ;
12. make judgment
13. adapt ; ;
14. circumstance - ; ;
15. to accuse
16. innocent
17. guilty -
18. prosecution [prosi΄kju:ʃən] - 1) ) ; ) ; ) (the prosecution) ( )
19. defendant - ; ,
20. to break the law
21. charge
22. acquit [ə΄kwit]
The legal system in England and Wales is separate from that in Scotland and in Northern Ireland. In all four parts of the UK, however, the same types of law are applied: legislation (= written laws) and Common Law.
British law is divided into civil law and criminal law. Civil law concerns disagreements between individuals. Criminal law deals with offences involving harm to a person.
English law relies on case law. Case law is a collection of previous decisions, called precedents. When making decisions courts look at precedents for the case being tried and make a similar judgment. Cases also can be adapted or new ones can be introduced in new circumstances.
In the United States the system of common law is applied. But they have their own sets of cases and principles to follow.
A basic principle of law is that anyone accused is innocent until proven guilty. It is the job of the prosecution to prove that the defendant (= the person accused) has broken the law as stated in the charge. If it cannot be proved the person must be acquitted.
Task V
Read and translate the text.
JUDICIAL SYSTEM
1. court of law - ,
2. decision judgment -
3. modify ['modifai] - , , ; , ,
4. abolish [ə'boliʃ] 1) , ,
5. capacity ; ; ; ;
6. legal action - ; , ;
7. state body
8. to administer justice -
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9. on behalf of - , (-.)
10. original jurisdiction - ,
11. appellate [ә΄pelit] -
12. appellate [ә΄pelit] jurisdiction -
13. appeal [ə'pi:l] - , ; ; , ;
14. sentence - ( ); ( ); ( ); ;
15. reassessment [ˏriə'sesmənt]
16. to sit as -
The judicial system is connected with courts of law, judges, or their decisions.
In all legal systems there are institutions to create, modify, abolish and apply the law. They are courts. The role of each court and its capacity to make decisions is strictly defined. A particular court can specialize in particular kinds of legal actions. The court is a state body that administers justice on behalf of the state.
There are courts of the first instance (original jurisdiction) and the second instance (appellate jurisdiction). A court in which a case is first heard is called the court of first instance. A court of second instance examines appeals and protests against sentences and decisions of first instance courts.
If a person feels his case was not fairly treated in a lower court, they can appeal to a higher court for reassessment.
Any court may sit as a court of the first instance.
2. Match the synonyms:
| 1) judicial | a) enquire |
| 2) decision | b) review |
| 3) legal action | c) legal |
| 4) examine | d) court action |
| 5) appeal | e) sentence |
