Democracy and Constitutions

1. Democracy and Constitutions The Texas System of Justice p. 627 - 631

2. The Judicial System • Made up of courts and judges • Serves 3 purposes: • It supports a system by which those accused of crimes may be tried and, if found guilty, punished. • Provides a system in which disputes can be settled • Decides what the laws of the state mean and how they should be enforced. • Two general areas of law: • Civil • Criminal • With the exception of some local judges, Texas judges are elected by voters.

3. Texas Civil Law • The word civil comes from the Latin word for citizen. • Civil Law pertains to legal disputes between private citizens, businesses, and governments. • Lawsuits between citizens are known as civil suits and are based on civil laws. • Most civil cases concern disputes about property, money, child custody, or insurance claims.

4. Criminal Law • Criminal law is the set of laws that describe what people can and cannot do. • It is concerned with crimes and punishment. • A criminal case is one in which a person are accused of breaking the law. • In a criminal case, the government brings court action against the accused. • A private citizen cannot file a criminal suit. • Two types of offenses are recognized under criminal law: • Felony • Misdemeanor

5. Criminal Law • A felony is a very serous crime, such as murder, arson, or kidnapping. • People convicted of a felony usually goes to prison or given the death penalty. • A misdemeanor is a less serious crime such as disorderly conduct, gambling, or dangerous traffic violation. • People convicted of misdemeanors may pay fines, serve terms in county jails, or both.

6. The Jury System • Whenever a person is accused of a felony, a group of people called a grand jury considers the case. • If 9 or more of the 12 members of the grand jury believe there is evidence that the person might have committed the crime, and indictment, called a “true bill” is issued. • If the grand jury decides there is not enough evidence, it can issue a “no bill.” • A petit jury decides the criminal cases that go to court. • After the attorneys present the evidence, all members of the jury must agree on a decision of “guilty” or “not guilty.”

7. The Jury System • If the accused is guilty, either the judge or the jury decides on a sentence. • Some cases are settled by plea bargaining. • Usually the defendant agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge. • Many times both sides have something to gain. When a plea bargain occurs, the government saves the money and time involved in a trial. • The guilty plea also ensures that the accused will receive some punishment.

8. Working for Justice • The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) conducts criminal investigations, supervises highway traffic, and licenses drivers. • County sheriffs and city police department conduct local law enforcement. • The Texas Department of Criminal Justice administers the state prisons for adults. • One key individual who works on behalf of justice is the state attorney general, considered to be the state’s lawyer. • If a case goes to court, the attorney general’s office represents the state.

9. Working for Justice • When a case comes to court, jurors have a great responsibility to determine the facts. • They also may need to decide the punishment for a person found guilty. • To serve on a jury, one must be a Texas citizen, be at least 18 years old, and be able to read and write. • Jurors cannot have any felony convictions or be under indictment for committing any felony.

10. The Court System of Texas • There are two kinds of courts in Texas: • Trial • Appeals • Trial courts hear cases and reach a decision called a verdict. • Municipal (or justice of the peace) – city; city violations/misdemeanors • County - at least 1 per county; civil cases/criminal misdemeanors • District – felony cases/serious crime • Appeals courts decide if trial held in trial courts were fair.