Introduction and reasons for law

• Establish boundaries


  Determines what is and what's not acceptable behaviour
• Protection

  Protect others as well as yourselves
• Freedom

  What you CAN do and how to do it
• Resolving disputes

  When things go wrong
• What's the penalty for texting and driving?

  3 demerit points and $298. Sent to prison for manslaughter if you kill someone while driving.
• What are rules?

  Established by groups of people to protect the rights and responsibilities of their individual members
• What are laws?

  Based on rules, but have more status in that they are officially created, changed, interpreted, and recognised by the government
• What are the three levels of government?

  Local council, state/territory parliament, federal parliament
• Federal parliament

  Covers immigration, marriage, communication, taxes, foreign affairs, defence. Has power to make laws for the whole country
• State/territory parliament

  Covers schools, hospitals, roads, railways, agriculture, mining, electricity, water.

  Make laws enforced in their own state/territory
• Local councils

  Covers local roads, road signage, rubbish collection, pets, libraries, parks
• Members of the Public


  They listen to and observe the court proceedings
• Media

  They observe proceedings to report on what happens
• Sheriff's Officers

  They serve summonses and provide security for the court
• Jurors

  Selected from the electoral roll, they decide on guilt or liability based on the type of case (criminal or civil) and the standard of proof.
• Prison officer


  From the prison where the accused has been held
• Counsel for the Defence

  Represents the accused in criminal cases and attempts to lessen punishment (pled guilty) or prove innocence (pled not guilty). Also represents defendants in civil cases.
• Prosecutor/Barrister

  In criminal cases, the prosecutor seeks to prove guilt, while in civil cases, a barrister acts on behalf of the plaintiff seeking compensation.
• Witnesses

  Give evidence from the witness box
• Tipstaff


  Helps the judge maintain order in the court
• Judge

  • Listens to arguments from both sides(except to clarify a point)
  • Has to make sure jury members understand the proceedings and evidence presented
  • If a jury announces a guilty verdict,the judge decides the sentence or punishment
  • Not allowed to ask a witness questions