1. Types of Law

2. Criminal Law
laws that seek to prevent people from deliberately or recklessly harming each other or each others property
tried in courtroom in which lawyers from opposing sides try to present their stronger cases
adversarial process
judges should be impartial and be fair to each side
Government is always the plaintiff, or party that brings charges against the alleged criminal
The defendant is a group or person accused of a crime
Felonies are serious crimes such as murder, rape, kidnapping, and robbery
Misdemeanors are offenses such as vandalism, stealing inexpensive items, etc.
Punished with a fine or a jail sentence of less than one year

3. Civil Law
disputes between people or groups of people, in which no criminal laws have been broken
Lawsuit
Legal action in which a person or group sues to collect damages for some harm that is done
Tort
Legal action when a person has suffered an injury and claim that another party is responsible due to negligence
Family law
Deals with family issue and problems such as divorce, child custody, adoption, alimony, child support, and spouse and child support

4. Constitutional Law
involves rights guaranteed under the Constitution, amendments, congressional legislation

5. Administrative Law
involves all rules and regulations that government agencies of the executive branch must issue to carry out their jobs

6. Statutory Law
deals with law written by a legislative branch of government
examples: setting speed limits, specifying rules for inspecting food products, setting minimum age to obtain a work permit, etc.

7. International Law
involves treaties, customs, and agreements among nations