Text 2 classification of law

Municipal law, i.e. state law, as opposed to international law, is commonly divided into categories. The chief of these categories is the distinction between public law on the one hand and private law on the other.

Public law consists of those fields of law which are primarily concerned with the state itself. Thus constitutional law, which regulates the functioning of the organs of the central government, and the relationship of the individual to them, is a branch of public law. Criminal law is also "public" law because crimes are wrongs which the state is concerned to prevent; and so is most of the law created by modern statutes designed to promote social security, for these statutes cast special duties upon the state.

Private Jaw is that part of the law which is primarily concerned with the rights and duties of individuals. Thus the branches of the law which govern private obligations such as the law of contract and of torts - are all aspects of private law. So too is the law of property, which determines the nature and extent of the rights which people may enjoy over land and other property, and the law of succession which governs the devolution of property upon death, and in certain other events.

These are only examples of sub-divisions of public and private law; many others might be given. Both the main division and the subdivisions are, to some extent, arbitrary and they are made primarily for the purpose of convenient exposition.

Text 3 judiciary

Criminal Proceedings. There are two courts of trial and two courts of appeal for criminal proceedings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The courts of trial are the Magistrates’ Court and the Crown Court, and the courts of appeal are the Court of Appeal and the house of Lords.

The Magistrates’ Court. The most common type of law court in England and Wales is the Magistrates’ Court. The Magistrates’ Court is the lower court of trial. It deals with summary offences. More serious criminal cases (indictable offences) then go to the Crown Court. Civil cases are dealt with in County courts.

Magistrates’ Courts have limited powers of penalty but may command a convicted offender to the Crown Court if it is considered that the powers of the Magistrates’ Court are insufficient. Approximately 95% of all prosecutions are dealt with in the Magistrates’ Courts.

Juvenile Courts are composed of specially trained magistrates. They try most charges against children and young persons under the age of 18 years.

The Crown Court. The Crown Court is the senior court of trial for criminal offences. The courts are established at various centers throughout the country. The courts are presided over by either a High Court Judge, Circuit Judge or Recorder who sits with a jury.

The Crown Court for the City of London is the Central Criminal Court, known as Old Bailey.

The Crown Court may also hear appeals against conviction and / or sentence for some offences dealt with at the Magistrates’ Court.

The Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal hears appeals from criminal cases heard in the Crown Courts.

The House of Lords. The house of Lords is the most senior and final court of appeal.

Civil Proceedings. Civil proceedings consist of litigation about property, family matters and actions to obtain financial redress for advantage to property and personal injury. The courts of trial for such litigation are the County Court and the High Court of Justice.

County Courts are local courts and are presided over by a single Judge. The High Court of Justice is situated in London. Some cases before the High Court of Justice may be heard before a jury.