Criminal and civil law, and the steps of a trial

Grade 12 Social Studies Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   Card A. Constitution, Fifth Amendment (1791), part. Exact words (National Archives transcript): “nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself”. Card B. Constitution, Sixth Amendment (1791), part. Exact words (National Archives transcript): “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed”; later in the same sentence: “to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence”. Card E. Constitution, Eighth Amendment (1791). Exact words (National Archives transcript): “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”

2. 1.

   A court in a made-up state tells a defendant who cannot pay for a lawyer to defend a felony charge alone. Which words on the cards are at issue, Ren?

   • Card E: excessive bail, since a defendant without a lawyer is likelier to be held before trial
   • Card A: no one may be compelled to be a witness against himself, since defending alone forces the defendant to speak
   • Card B: an impartial jury, since a lawyer is what lets a defendant question the jurors fairly
   • Card B: the right to the Assistance of Counsel for the accused's defense

3. Use this

   Card D. Two kinds of cases (summary in our words, not a quotation, from the U.S. Courts website). In a criminal case the government, through a prosecutor, charges a person with breaking a law and must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt; a conviction can bring a fine, probation or time in jail or prison. In a civil case a plaintiff sues a defendant over a dispute, such as a contract or an injury, and must show the claim is more likely true than not (a preponderance of the evidence); a win usually brings money damages or a court order.

4. 2.

   Luz reads a made-up pair of cases. A prosecutor charges a store owner with dumping oil; a neighbor separately sues over a spoiled well. Which case is civil, and what must be shown?

   • The neighbor's suit; the neighbor must show the owner more likely than not caused the harm
   • The prosecutor's case; the government must show it is more likely than not that the owner dumped the oil
   • Both cases; each needs proof beyond a reasonable doubt, since both accuse the owner of the same act
   • The neighbor's suit; the owner would face jail or prison if the neighbor wins, since the harm was serious
5. 3.

   A news story says Milo's club (made up) lost a contract lawsuit and “was found guilty.” Zee checks Card D. What does it suggest about that word?

   • The word is fine, since a plaintiff who wins by a preponderance of the evidence has shown guilt
   • The word is fine, since a court that makes anyone pay another side has found a law was broken
   • Guilt is a criminal verdict; a civil loss usually means money or a court order, so the word is wrong
   • The word is fine, since Card D says a civil case can end with a court order against the club

6. Use this

   Card B. Constitution, Sixth Amendment (1791), part. Exact words (National Archives transcript): “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed”; later in the same sentence: “to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence”. Card C. Constitution, Seventh Amendment (1791). Exact words (National Archives transcript): “In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved”. Card D. Two kinds of cases (summary in our words, not a quotation, from the U.S. Courts website). In a criminal case the government, through a prosecutor, charges a person with breaking a law and must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt; a conviction can bring a fine, probation or time in jail or prison. In a civil case a plaintiff sues a defendant over a dispute, such as a contract or an injury, and must show the claim is more likely true than not (a preponderance of the evidence); a win usually brings money damages or a court order.

7. 4.

   Tala reads Cards B, C and D. One person is charged with a crime; another sues over a $15 dispute. Who has a constitutional right to a jury?

   • The defendant; the plaintiff's small dispute does not exceed twenty dollars, so Card C does not reach it
   • Both, since Card C preserves trial by jury in civil suits of any size
   • Neither, since a jury sits where guilt must be shown beyond a reasonable doubt in either kind of case
   • The plaintiff alone, since Card C names a right to a jury and Card B names a speedy trial but no jury

8. Use this

   Card B. Constitution, Sixth Amendment (1791), part. Exact words (National Archives transcript): “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed”; later in the same sentence: “to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence”.

9. 5.

   A made-up trial for a crime in State X is held in State Y, hundreds of miles from the crime. Which words of Card B are at issue, Noah?

   • “of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed”
   • No words, since Card B protects the jury's fairness and says nothing about where a jury sits
   • “the Assistance of Counsel for his defence”, since a lawyer cannot easily travel to another state
   • “speedy and public trial”, since a trial in a far-off place is bound to move slowly

10. Use this

    Card E. Constitution, Eighth Amendment (1791). Exact words (National Archives transcript): “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”

11. 6.

    A judge sets bail for a made-up defendant at an amount the defendant calls far too high. Jun reads Card E. Which words apply?

    • “nor excessive fines imposed”, since bail is a sum of money the court takes
    • “Excessive bail shall not be required”
    • “nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted”, since high bail is a penalty before any trial
    • No words of Card E, since Card E names what happens after a person is convicted

12. Use this

    Card A. Constitution, Fifth Amendment (1791), part. Exact words (National Archives transcript): “nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself”.

13. 7.

    A made-up defendant chooses not to testify, and the prosecutor tells the jury, “Silence means guilt.” Esme reads Card A. What do its words suggest?

    • Card A lets the jury convict on silence alone, since the card says nothing about what jurors may infer
    • It pressures the defendant to testify, which “compelled … to be a witness against himself” aims to stop
    • Card A allows it, since the defendant was not physically forced to speak
    • Card A is not involved, since it names the “same offence” and this trial is the first for it

14. Use this

    Card F (made up). Court records of Lakeside County for one year: 100 criminal cases ended. 88 ended with a guilty plea, 7 were dismissed and 5 ended in a trial.

15. 8.

    Bo says, “Only 5 of 100 cases had trials, so the Sixth Amendment's jury right is rarely used.” What does Card F show?

    • That 88 defendants lost their right, since a guilty plea means the court denied them a jury
    • That few cases reached trial; it does not show the right went unused, since a plea is a choice
    • That the right is rarely used, since 5 trials happened out of 100 cases
    • Nothing about juries, since a county's records cannot say anything about the Sixth Amendment
16. 9.

    A reporter says Card F shows “Prosecutors won 88 percent of cases.” Which reply is best, Ari?

    • Right, since 88 of 100 cases ended in a conviction, and a conviction is a win for the prosecutor
    • Right, since a guilty plea means the prosecutor's evidence was overwhelming
    • Wrong, since a jury verdict is what counts as a conviction, so the figure is 5 percent at most
    • Card F counts guilty pleas, which skip trial; it does not show how strong the evidence was

17. Use this

    Card C. Constitution, Seventh Amendment (1791). Exact words (National Archives transcript): “In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved”. Card G (made up). Court records of Hollow Creek for one year: 40 civil suits ended. 26 ended in a settlement, 9 in a judge's ruling and 5 in a jury verdict.

18. 10.

    Luz says, “Settlements mean the plaintiffs lost.” Using Cards C and G, what does Card G show?

    • That the Seventh Amendment bars settlements, since it preserves trial by jury
    • That 26 of 40 suits ended by agreement; it does not say who gained or lost
    • Nothing, since the card gives no dollar amounts, so no claim about settlements is possible
    • That the plaintiffs lost, since a settlement ends a suit with no verdict for them