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Texas law . Elicia B ilyeu . CIVIL LAW . The cases in civil law are disputes between 2 or more people Usually involve property rights family matters or personal injuries. Deals with civil rights
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Texas law Elicia Bilyeu
CIVIL LAW • The cases in civil law are disputes between 2 or more people • Usually involve property rights family matters or personal injuries. • Deals with civil rights • There are 2 parts: the plaintiff-person who claims they have been harmed, and the defendant-person being accused. • Either a judge or a jury makes the decision.
CRIMINAL LAW • Protects people, maintains order, and enforces laws and punishments. • There are 2 types of crimes- misdemeanor: lesser crimes, and felonies: major crimes. • Only a grand jury can charge a person with a felonie.
TRIALS • Trials are used to try and settle cases. • Sometimes trials are not needed. • The defendant can make a plea bargain- an agreement with the defendant and the state. The defendant can plead guilty and it saves the time and cost of a trial and the defendant gets a not so bad punishment as they would have.
JURIES • You have to be at least 18 a resident of Texas and a U.S. citizen. • You cant be a convicted felon. • Jurors listen to the evidence and decide. • All jurors have to agree the defendant is guilty to convict them of a felon. In civil cases only most have to say the defendant is guilty.
KEY TERMS • Capitol offense- crimes that can be punished by death (murder, terrorist, etc.) • Grand jury- a group of at least 12 citizens who determine if there is enough evidence against defendant to justify a trial. • Indictment- a formal charge of wrongdoing • Complaint- a sworn statement that there is evidence that the accused has committed the crime. • Plea bargain- an agreement between the state and the defendant in a criminal trial.