Scenario 1 Local law requires that drivers drive no faster than 45 miles per hour on local roads. The law outlines punishments for those who speed. The penalty increases the faster the person travels above the speed limit. The most severe punishments are for those who travel faster than 20 miles per hour above the speed limit. Signs post this law on most roads, but some sections of roads are missing signs. Local police stop a man traveling 67 miles per hour. He apologizes and insists that he meant no harm. His wife was having a baby and he was anxious to get her quickly to a hospital. The officer gave him a ticket and told him he will have to appear in court since he was going so fast. Is this a matter of constitutional, criminal, civil, or military law? How do you know?

This is criminal law because the first sentence states it is a local law and therefore would impact the local citizens. It is matter between the government and the citizen therefore criminal law.

Civil law is matters between citizens such as family disputes, contracts, and liability. Military law is the structure and rules that members of the military must follow. Constitutional law deals with matters regarding interpretation of the Constitution. It looks at how laws should be interpreted.