Criminal Justice: A Brief Introduction --
Chapter 3
Law - correct answer ✔✔A rule of conduct, generally found enacted in the form of a statue, that
proscribes or mandates certain forms of behavior.
Statutory Law - correct answer ✔✔The written or codified law: "the law on the book," as enacted by the
government body or agency having the power to make laws.
Penal Code - correct answer ✔✔The written, organized and complied form of the criminal laws of a
jurisdiction.
Case law - correct answer ✔✔The body of judicial precedent, historically built on legal reasoning and
past interpretations of statutory laws, that serves as a guide to decision making, especially in the courts.
Common law - correct answer ✔✔The body of law originating form usage and custom rather than form
written statutes. The term refers to an unwritten body of judicial opinion, originally developed by English
courts, that is based on the nonstatutory customs, traditions, and precedents that help guide judicial
decision making.
Rule of Law - correct answer ✔✔The maxim that an orderly society must be governed by established
principals and known codes that are applied uniformly and fairly to all of its members.
Jurisprudence - correct answer ✔✔The philosophy of law. Also the science and study of the law.
Criminal Law - correct answer ✔✔The body of rules and regulations that define and specify the nature of
and punishments for offenses of a public nature or for wrongs committed against the state or society.
Also called penal law.
Substantive Criminal Law - correct answer ✔✔the part of the law that defines crimes and specifies
punishments.
, Procedural Law - correct answer ✔✔the part of the law that specifies the methods to be used in
enforcing substantive law.
Civil Law - correct answer ✔✔the branch of law that governs relationships between parties.
Tort - correct answer ✔✔A wrongful act, damage, or injury not involving a breach of contract. Also, a
private or civil wrong or injury.
Precedent - correct answer ✔✔A legal principal that ensures that previous judicial decisions are
authoritatively considered and incorporated into future cases.
Stare Decisis - correct answer ✔✔A legal principle that requires that in subsequent cases on similar
issues of law and fact, courts are bound by their own earlier decisions and by those of higher courts
having jurisdiction over them. The term literally means, "standing by decided matters."
Felony - correct answer ✔✔A criminal offense punishable by death or by incarceration in a prison facility
for at least one year.
Misdemeanor - correct answer ✔✔An offense punishable by incarceration, usually in a local
confinement faculty, for a period whose upper limit is prescribed by statute in a given jurisdiction,
typically one year or less.
Offense - correct answer ✔✔A violation of the criminal law. Also, in some jurisdiction, a minor crime,
such as jaywalking, that is sometimes described as ticketable.
infraction - correct answer ✔✔A minor violation of state statute or local ordinance punishable by a fine
or other penalty or by a specified, usually limited, term of incarceration.
Treason - correct answer ✔✔A U.S. citizen's actions to help a foreign government overthrow, make war
against or seriously injure the United States. Also, the attempt to overthrow the government of the
society of which one is a member.
Chapter 3
Law - correct answer ✔✔A rule of conduct, generally found enacted in the form of a statue, that
proscribes or mandates certain forms of behavior.
Statutory Law - correct answer ✔✔The written or codified law: "the law on the book," as enacted by the
government body or agency having the power to make laws.
Penal Code - correct answer ✔✔The written, organized and complied form of the criminal laws of a
jurisdiction.
Case law - correct answer ✔✔The body of judicial precedent, historically built on legal reasoning and
past interpretations of statutory laws, that serves as a guide to decision making, especially in the courts.
Common law - correct answer ✔✔The body of law originating form usage and custom rather than form
written statutes. The term refers to an unwritten body of judicial opinion, originally developed by English
courts, that is based on the nonstatutory customs, traditions, and precedents that help guide judicial
decision making.
Rule of Law - correct answer ✔✔The maxim that an orderly society must be governed by established
principals and known codes that are applied uniformly and fairly to all of its members.
Jurisprudence - correct answer ✔✔The philosophy of law. Also the science and study of the law.
Criminal Law - correct answer ✔✔The body of rules and regulations that define and specify the nature of
and punishments for offenses of a public nature or for wrongs committed against the state or society.
Also called penal law.
Substantive Criminal Law - correct answer ✔✔the part of the law that defines crimes and specifies
punishments.
, Procedural Law - correct answer ✔✔the part of the law that specifies the methods to be used in
enforcing substantive law.
Civil Law - correct answer ✔✔the branch of law that governs relationships between parties.
Tort - correct answer ✔✔A wrongful act, damage, or injury not involving a breach of contract. Also, a
private or civil wrong or injury.
Precedent - correct answer ✔✔A legal principal that ensures that previous judicial decisions are
authoritatively considered and incorporated into future cases.
Stare Decisis - correct answer ✔✔A legal principle that requires that in subsequent cases on similar
issues of law and fact, courts are bound by their own earlier decisions and by those of higher courts
having jurisdiction over them. The term literally means, "standing by decided matters."
Felony - correct answer ✔✔A criminal offense punishable by death or by incarceration in a prison facility
for at least one year.
Misdemeanor - correct answer ✔✔An offense punishable by incarceration, usually in a local
confinement faculty, for a period whose upper limit is prescribed by statute in a given jurisdiction,
typically one year or less.
Offense - correct answer ✔✔A violation of the criminal law. Also, in some jurisdiction, a minor crime,
such as jaywalking, that is sometimes described as ticketable.
infraction - correct answer ✔✔A minor violation of state statute or local ordinance punishable by a fine
or other penalty or by a specified, usually limited, term of incarceration.
Treason - correct answer ✔✔A U.S. citizen's actions to help a foreign government overthrow, make war
against or seriously injure the United States. Also, the attempt to overthrow the government of the
society of which one is a member.
