Draw lines to combine the two halves of the sentences to describe the functions of each.
| Who | What |
| • The police interrogate | • arrests, searches, and seizures. |
| • The police carry out | • on the sentence to be imposed. |
| • The magistrate sometimes conducts | • over the court. |
| • The prosecutor conducts | • suspects and witnesses. |
| • The suspect has the right | • the case in court on behalf of the police. |
| • The suspect is innocent | • the investigation in cases of serious criminal offence. |
| • The defence counsel assists | • the suspect from violations of his rights at the hands of law-enforcement personnel. |
| • The defence counsel protects | • the suspect in gathering exonerating evidence. |
| • The judge presides | • to remain silent. |
| • The judge decides | • until proved guilty. |
| • The jury decides | • whether the accused is guilty or not. |
41. Read the text and answer the questions.
• Why is common law called “English"?
• Why are so many countries influenced by common law?
Common Law
Common Law (Anglo-Saxon legal family) is a type of legal system, often synonymous to “English common law", which is the system of England and Wales in the UK. It is also in force in approximately 80 countries which were influenced by the former British Empire. The English common law reflects Biblical influences as well as systems imposed by early conquerors including the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, and Normans.
Some legal scholars attribute the formation of the English common law system to King Henry II (r. 1154 - 1189). Until the time of his reign, laws customary were administered locally. Henry II having established the King's court, designated that laws were "common" to the entire England.
The foundation of English common law is "legal precedent" — referred to as start decisis (Lat) meaning “to stand by things decided". In the English common law system, court judges are bound in their decisions in large part by the rules and other doctrines developed by the judges of earlier English courts. These rules were supplemented or amended over time.
Find English equivalents to the following Russian word combinations.
• дополнить или исправить
• основа общего права
• доктрины, созданные судьями
• быть ограниченным в своих решениях
• ученые-юристы
• являться синонимом
• приписывать создание кому-либо
• бывшая Британская империя
Find the words corresponding the following definitions.
• the country which was running half of the world
during several centuries.
• the religious book of Christians.
• group of people or military troops who attack
foreign territories in order to join them to their lands.
• _______ period of time when a King or a Queen is running the state.
• ________ something (such as a judgment) which has happened earlier than the prevent and which can be a guide to what should be done in the present case.
Which sentences contain information from the text?
• Common law derived from customs of continental countries.
• Common law is a synonym to precedent law.
• Common law is widely spread in many countries.
• English common law was influenced by the Bible.
• Laws were administered universally all over England before the reign of Henry II.
• The King's court designed that laws were common to the whole country.
• The source of English common law is the precedent.
• Common law is stable and can't be amended or changed.
45. Match these bodies of law (1-3) with their definitions (a-c).
| 1 civil law | a) area of the law which deals with crimes and their punishments, including fines and/orimprisonment (also penal law) |
| 2 common law | b) 1)legal system developed from Roman codified law, established by a state for its regulation; 2) area of the law concerned with non-criminal matters, rights and remedies |
| 3 criminal law | c) legal system which is the foundation of the legal systems of most of the English-speaking countries of the world, based on customs, usage and court decisions (also case law, judge-made law) |
Complete the definitions.
1 ......................... is law relating to acts committed against the law which
are punished by the state.
2 ......................... is concerned with the constitution or government of the
state, or the relationship between state and citizens.
3 ......................... is rules which determine how a case is administered by the courts.
4.......................... is concerned with the rights and duties of individuals,
organisations, and associations (such as companies, trade unions, and charities), as opposed to criminal law.
5 ......................... is common law and statute law used by the courts in
making decisions.