Court

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/court

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the legal systems?Operate within civil law (statute-based) and common law (precedent-based) traditions, among others
2. What is the judicial independence?A critical principle ensuring courts can make decisions free from external influence
3. Why do courts need to be fair?Courts have to be fair so people trust them and know that the same rules apply to everyone.
4. How do courts help keep society safe?Courts check that laws and government actions follow the constitution, so no one can abuse power and everyone’s rights are protected.

Stare Decisis: The legal principle of determining points in litigation according to precedent.
Due Process: Fair treatment through the normal judicial system, especially as a citizen's entitlement.
Adversarial System: A legal system where two opposing sides present their cases before a neutral judge or jury.