Jury

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/jury

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 system foundation?Integral to common law jurisdictions, serving as the finder of fact
2. What is the historical precedent?Evolved from medieval English practices, codified by Magna Carta principles
3. What is a jury and what do they do in court?A jury is a group of ordinary people who listen to evidence and decide if someone is guilty or not guilty in criminal cases, or who should pay money in civil cases. They are the "finder of fact" while the judge tells them the law.
4. Why do jurors have to be unanimous?Many places want all jurors to agree so the decision shows that everyone thinks the facts are clear and fair, which helps keep bias out and makes the verdict trustworthy.

Adversarial System: A legal process where two opposing sides present their cases before a neutral decision-maker.
Finder of Fact: The role of the jury in determining the truth of disputed facts in a trial.
Due Process: The legal requirement that the state must respect all legal rights owed to a person.