1. Classifications
1.1. Public law and private law
1.1.1. Private law deals with relations between individuals where the state is not directly involved, for example the enforcement of contracts or ownership of property.
1.1.2. Public law deals with the relationship between individual citizens and the state; for example, where an individual believes that their human rights have been infringed by an action of the state. Public law includes constitutional law, administrative law and criminal law.
1.2. Criminal law and civil law
1.2.1. Prosecute X Sue
1.2.2. Criminal law is about the state prosecuting an individual for behaviour that the state wishes to control and which is deemed to be morally wrong. The state takes action against an individual on behalf of society. In criminal law, the state prosecutes a defendant.
1.2.3. Civil law involves the resolution of disputes between individuals or businesses, and provides remedies such as monetary compensation. It is not concerned with punishment. Contract and property law are both types of civil law – these are both types of dispute between individuals or businesses.