Rules and Theory of Criminal Law | OCR A-Level Law (H418)
Rules and Theory of Criminal Law
- 37 questions
- 2 subtopics
- Component 1: The legal system and criminal law
- Component 1
What criminal law is for and the principles that underpin it, before any particular offence is reached..
It covers the rules of criminal law and theories of criminal law.
Sample questions from Rules and Theory of Criminal Law
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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The rules of criminal law
On whom does the burden of proof lie in criminal cases?
Show the answer
The burden of proof lies on the prosecution, meaning it is the prosecution's responsibility to prove the defendant's guilt. -
The rules of criminal law
How can actus reus be satisfied by a state of affairs?
Show the answer
A state of affairs is a situation or condition in which the defendant finds themselves that constitutes the prohibited circumstance, regardless of any voluntary act. -
Theories of criminal law
What does the principle of maximum certainty require?
Show the answer
It requires that criminal offences should be defined with sufficient clarity so that individuals can know in advance what conduct is prohibited. -
Theories of criminal law
What does the principle of legality require?
Show the answer
It requires that no one can be convicted of a crime unless the conduct was prohibited by law at the time it was committed.
The 2 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| The rules of criminal law | Recall questions on what a crime is, statute and common law as sources of criminal law, the roles of the prosecution and defence, the burden and standard of proof and reverse onus, and the meaning of actus reus and mens rea. | 20 |
| Theories of criminal law | Recall questions on the aims of the criminal law, including retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, incapacitation and reparation, and on the principles of legality, maximum certainty, autonomy, fair labelling, correspondence and the harm principle. | 17 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
OCR A-Level Law Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 1,624 questions with their answers.