BLAW 3310 FINAL EXAM MILLER
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BANK 2026
COMPLETE ANSWERS ACCURATE
⫸ Stability Answer: the legal system helps define acceptable behavior.
The law limits activities that hurt the public interest. The law can also
require or encourage business practices that further social or political
goals
⫸ Predictability Answer: law provides predictability and uniformity
⫸ Social Change Answer: the legal system provides a way to bring
about changes in "acceptable" behavior
-Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): state racial segregation for public facilities
legal under "separate buy equal"
-Brown v. Board of Education (1954): state laws establishing racial
segregation in public school is unconstitutional
⫸ Conflict Resolution Answer: a critical function of the law is dispute
resolution
-Court system (formal process)
,⫸ Constitution Answer: the fundamental law of a nation; written
document (not always written) establishing the powers of government
and its basic structure
⫸ U.S. Constitution Answer: sets framework, powers and limits of
federal government (3 branches of government)
⫸ Legislative Branch Answer: Congress (House and Senate); makes the
laws
⫸ Executive Branch Answer: President and his cabinet; implements the
laws (executive orders)
⫸ Judicial Branch Answer: Supreme Court; interpret the laws
⫸ Statutes Answer: rules made by legislative bodies; written by
legislative, signed into by executive; typically commands or prohibits
something, or declares policy (affects business behavior)
⫸ Administrative Agencies Answer: a governmental bureau established
by Congress (or the President) to execute certain functions of Congress
⫸ Common Law Answer: law made and applied by judges as they
resolve disputes among private parties; foundation of agency
(employment), contact, property, and tort law
, ⫸ Legal Precedent Answer: to settle disputes that are similar to past
disputes, judges look for guidance by studying decisions form earlier
recorded cases
⫸ Stare Decisis Answer: "to stand on decided cases"; the use of
precedent by courts
⫸ Criminal Law Answer: concern legal wrongs or crimes committed
against the state (Felony or Misdemeanor)
⫸ Felony Answer: serious class crime punishable by imprisonment of
more than a year
⫸ Misdemeanor Answer: lesser class crime punishable by a fine and/or
imprisonment of less than a year (not in state or federal penitentiaries)
⫸ Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Answer: in criminal law, the general
rule that for a judge to find a defendant guilty, there can be no
significant doubt that the defendant violated a criminal statute (higher
standard of proof); jail time
⫸ Civil Law Answer: concerns the rights and responsibilities that exist
among members of society or between individuals and the government
in non-criminal matters
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BANK 2026
COMPLETE ANSWERS ACCURATE
⫸ Stability Answer: the legal system helps define acceptable behavior.
The law limits activities that hurt the public interest. The law can also
require or encourage business practices that further social or political
goals
⫸ Predictability Answer: law provides predictability and uniformity
⫸ Social Change Answer: the legal system provides a way to bring
about changes in "acceptable" behavior
-Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): state racial segregation for public facilities
legal under "separate buy equal"
-Brown v. Board of Education (1954): state laws establishing racial
segregation in public school is unconstitutional
⫸ Conflict Resolution Answer: a critical function of the law is dispute
resolution
-Court system (formal process)
,⫸ Constitution Answer: the fundamental law of a nation; written
document (not always written) establishing the powers of government
and its basic structure
⫸ U.S. Constitution Answer: sets framework, powers and limits of
federal government (3 branches of government)
⫸ Legislative Branch Answer: Congress (House and Senate); makes the
laws
⫸ Executive Branch Answer: President and his cabinet; implements the
laws (executive orders)
⫸ Judicial Branch Answer: Supreme Court; interpret the laws
⫸ Statutes Answer: rules made by legislative bodies; written by
legislative, signed into by executive; typically commands or prohibits
something, or declares policy (affects business behavior)
⫸ Administrative Agencies Answer: a governmental bureau established
by Congress (or the President) to execute certain functions of Congress
⫸ Common Law Answer: law made and applied by judges as they
resolve disputes among private parties; foundation of agency
(employment), contact, property, and tort law
, ⫸ Legal Precedent Answer: to settle disputes that are similar to past
disputes, judges look for guidance by studying decisions form earlier
recorded cases
⫸ Stare Decisis Answer: "to stand on decided cases"; the use of
precedent by courts
⫸ Criminal Law Answer: concern legal wrongs or crimes committed
against the state (Felony or Misdemeanor)
⫸ Felony Answer: serious class crime punishable by imprisonment of
more than a year
⫸ Misdemeanor Answer: lesser class crime punishable by a fine and/or
imprisonment of less than a year (not in state or federal penitentiaries)
⫸ Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Answer: in criminal law, the general
rule that for a judge to find a defendant guilty, there can be no
significant doubt that the defendant violated a criminal statute (higher
standard of proof); jail time
⫸ Civil Law Answer: concerns the rights and responsibilities that exist
among members of society or between individuals and the government
in non-criminal matters
