Name:

.Period: .

Parent Signature:

Civics Study Guide: Civil & Criminal Law

Directions: Answer completely all the questions below, have your parent/guardian sign, and turn in this study guide before the test to have your test grade boosted to the next letter grade (A’s increase 5 points). Credit will not be given for incomplete, unsigned, inadequately answered study guides. Your test may include, but is not limited to the following:

Answer Completely:

1. Explain how civil law is different from criminal law.
2. Give two reasons why a person might file a civil lawsuit.
3. Diagram and describe the court procedures in a civil case.
4. What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor?
5. Diagram the courts system in Virginia, showing the names and levels of the courts.
6. What types of criminal and civil cases are heard by the District courts?
7. What types of civil cases can be heard by either the District or Circuit courts?
8. What types of criminal and civil cases are heard by the Circuit courts?
9. List the types of cases the Court of Appeals has jurisdiction over.
10. What are the three things the Supreme Court of Virginia can do with a lower court decision?

Vocabulary List:

battery

assault

trespass

defamation

deceit

negligence

plaintiff

defendant

verdict

judgment

liable

injury

damages

prosecutor

party

attorney

opinion

petty larceny

grand larceny

embezzlement

robbery

extortion

burglary

fraud

forgery

counterfeiting

vandalism

arson