Final answer:
Criminal law and civil law are the two primary law divisions. Criminal law pertains to offenses against society, prosecuted by the government; civil law pertains to personal harm, where the victim seeks compensation. Legal systems can be diverse, with many adopting mixed systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
In most legal systems, laws are divided into two kinds: criminal law and civil law. Criminal law pertains to offenses that harm society. Crimes are labeled as felonies or misdemeanors; felonies being the more serious crimes, and the government is responsible for charging the offending party.
Anything outside criminal law falls under civil law. This relates to situations where one individual is harmed by another, and the victim seeks compensation. The offenses in civil law systems are ruled by statutes or case precedents in common law legal systems.
It's important to note that there are different types of legal systems worldwide, with many adopting mixed systems incorporating elements from common, civil, religious, and customary laws. The division between serious and lesser offenses in criminal law, and their associated penalties, significantly vary by country.
Learn more about Criminal and Civil Laws