Module 3
Criminal Law
,Development of Criminal Law
• Laws consist of enforceable rules that govern the
conduct between people in a society
• English common law
• Law developed by practice rather than legislation
• Precedent
• Court decision that sets an example for other courts to
follow when faced with similar case
• Judges are obligated to follow established precedents
within their jurisdictions
, Written Sources of Criminal
Law
• Old English common law was not codified
• American criminal law is codified (written down)
• Accessible to all
• Constitutional law
• Law set out in the Constitution, “The supreme law of the
land”
• The U.S. and each state have their own Constitution
Criminal Law
,Development of Criminal Law
• Laws consist of enforceable rules that govern the
conduct between people in a society
• English common law
• Law developed by practice rather than legislation
• Precedent
• Court decision that sets an example for other courts to
follow when faced with similar case
• Judges are obligated to follow established precedents
within their jurisdictions
, Written Sources of Criminal
Law
• Old English common law was not codified
• American criminal law is codified (written down)
• Accessible to all
• Constitutional law
• Law set out in the Constitution, “The supreme law of the
land”
• The U.S. and each state have their own Constitution
