Questions and Answers
What type of behavior do parking violations or underage drinking exemplify?
Mal prohibita
Which of the following can the president issue regarding the execution of legislation that oversees the behavior of officers and agencies of the executive branch?
Which limit of the law requires the publication of a law before it can be enforced?
Principle of legality
Which limit of the law protects a person from being punished for an action committed before such a law existed?
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The law must provide clear and specific language to define a prohibited behavior. If they do NOT, they might be considered _________
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The Model Penal Code classifies crime according to _________
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The principle that a person has common sense understanding that the results of his or her behavior might cause harm is termed _________
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Actions that do NOT require criminal intent to be considered a criminal act are called _________
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Which of the following is NOT a category of inchoate offenses?
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An incomplete criminal act that is the closest act to completion of a crime is a (an) _________
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What defense would Mr. Smith claim if he was supplied with a gun by an undercover police officer who encouraged him to rob a bank?
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Which defense is sometimes nicknamed the 'lesser of two evils'?
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What is the legal basis for Mrs. Johnson defending herself from a home invasion when she shot a man trying to break into her house?
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Study Notes
Criminal Law Concepts
- Mal prohibita: Refers to behaviors that are prohibited by law, such as parking violations or underage drinking. These acts are not inherently wrong but are deemed illegal due to legislative mandates.
- Executive orders: Legal directives issued by the president to manage the operation of the federal government, overseeing how laws are implemented by executive branch officers and agencies.
- Principle of legality: A fundamental legal doctrine requiring that laws must be published and made accessible before they can be enforced, ensuring individuals are informed of legal standards.
Legal Protections
- Ex post facto laws: These laws protect individuals from retroactive punishment by prohibiting the enforcement of laws that penalize actions committed before the law was enacted.
- Void for vagueness: A legal principle asserting that laws must be clearly defined. If a law is ambiguous, it may be rendered unenforceable for lack of clarity regarding prohibited behaviors.
Crime Classification
- The victim of the crime: Under the Model Penal Code, crimes may be classified based on the nature of the victim involved, determining the context of the offense.
- General intent: This principle indicates that an individual possesses an inherent understanding that their behavior could result in harm, showing a basic intent behind their actions.
- Strict liability crimes: Offenses that do not require proof of the perpetrator's intent. Simply engaging in the act constitutes a violation of law, often applied in regulatory contexts.
Criminal Attempt and Defenses
- Scheme: Refers to categories of incomplete or preparatory criminal offenses, with certain acts classified under inchoate crimes such as conspiracy or solicitation.
- Attempt: Represents the act of engaging in behaviors that are the closest tangible step toward completing a crime, although the crime itself is not fully executed.
- Entrapment: A legal defense claiming that a defendant was induced or persuaded by law enforcement to commit a crime they would not have otherwise committed, as demonstrated in Mr. Smith's case.
- Necessity: Often described as the "lesser of two evils," this defense justifies unlawful actions taken to prevent a greater harm from occurring.
- Self-defense: A legal justification for using force to protect oneself from imminent danger, exemplified by cases like Mrs. Johnson's, where lethal force may be warranted during a home invasion.
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Description
This quiz explores essential concepts in criminal law, including mal prohibita, executive orders, and the principle of legality. It also covers important legal protections such as ex post facto laws and the void for vagueness doctrine. Test your understanding of these critical legal principles.
