Unit III state structure: judicial branch of power Before you start

Core Vocabulary 1

tribunal [trai’bju:nəl]– судебное учреждение; суд специальной юрисдикции

preside over – заседать, председательствовать

consider a case – рассматривать дело

rule of law – норма права

dispute – судебный спор

dispute resolution – решение спора

bring a claim before the court – подать дело в суд

prosecute an offender – преследовать нарушителя в уголовном порядке

prosecutor – прокурор

seek a legal remedy – добиваться правовой защиты

lower court – суд низшей инстанции

trial court – суд общей юрисдикции первой инстанции

appellate court – апелляционный суд

supreme court – верховный суд

jurisdiction – юрисдикции, право рассматривать определенные дела

civil jurisdiction – гражданская юрисдикция

criminal jurisdiction – уголовная юрисдикция

law violation – нарушение закона

impose a penalty – наложить штраф

hearing – слушания

trial – судебный процесс

present arguments – представить доказательства

plaintiff – истец

claimant – истец

defendant – ответчик; обвиняемый

in the name of … - от имени

administer justice – отправлять правосудие

rule – выносить решение

CONCEPT

Court is defined as a tribunal presided over by a judge or judges who have the authority to consider civil or criminal cases and administrative matters, and make decisions according to the rule of law.

In both common law and civil law legal systems, courts are the major means of dispute resolution. Thus, people can bring their claims before court and in that case government prosecutes the offenders in court. However, all parties have the right to present defense before the court and seek a legal remedy.

Consequently, justice system is the system of courts that in most states consists of four tiers: lower state courts, general trial courts, appeal courts and state supreme courts.

Courts, as a rule, are classified by jurisdiction – the power of a court to decide certain legal matters or cases. So, every state system provides courts of civil jurisdiction and courts of criminal jurisdiction.

Obviously, civil cases involve legal disputes between parties, individuals or legal entities, and trying them the judge can award compensation for the injury or losses to the winning party.

However, criminal cases concern matters of serious violation of law, so the judge will impose a penalty or punishment on the offender.

The proceedings held by court are hearings or trials where the parties present their arguments. The parties to a civil case are claimant / plaintiff and defendant while in criminal cases the parties are the prosecutor in the name of the state / sovereign and the defendant. The presiding judge administers justice and rules.

1. Highlight all words and word combinations from Core Vocabulary 1.

2. Check if the text provides the following information:

- the powers of the court;

- the function of the court;

- the mutual relationship of the court and the nation;

- the court hierarchy;

- major court classification;

- the way civil disputes are decided;

- the way criminal matters are decided;

- the parties to court proceedings.