PROFESSIONAL

ISSUES
Lecture 2

EXCERPT FROM THE PREFACE

When employers of newly qualified

information systems professionals are asked
what it is they would most like them to
know, the answer is very rarely technical.
Much more commonly, the answer is an
understanding of the business environment.

CH 1: LAW AND GOVERNMENT

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After reading this chapter, you should:
Understand the nature of the law and the
difference between criminal law and civil
law
Understand what is meant by the terms
legislature, judiciary and executive and
appreciate the variety of ways in which these
concepts are implemented in different
countries
Understand the ways in which law comes
into existence

WHAT IS THE LAW?

We shall define law as
a set of rules that can be enforced in a
court.
e.g.

divorce, alcohol
the rights of access to information, and the
misuse of computers

Jurisdiction is the area covered by a single

legal system and set of laws.

CRIMINAL LAW AND CIVIL LAW

Criminal Law
The set of mechanisms that tries to punish
wrongdoers, by fines or imprisonment
It represents societys view of the minimum
standard of acceptable behavior.
It defines:
what

constitutes a crime
lays down the mechanisms for deciding whether
a person accused of a crime is guilty or innocent
specifies the range of punishments applicable to
different categories of crime

CRIMINAL LAW AND CIVIL LAW

Civil Law
The purpose of the civil law is to provide
rules for settling disputes between people.
Court action under the civil law is known as
litigation.
It

must be initiated by one of the parties to the

dispute, that is, by the person, legal or natural,
who feels he has been wronged.

The person who initiates the court action is

known as the plaintiff.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CIVIL

AND CRIMINAL LAW
Two important differences
Standard of Proof
In

criminal offence, prosecution to prove guilty

beyond all reasonable doubt.
In civil law, plaintiff is required only to show that
his claim is correct on the balance of probabilities
Higher standard of proof for criminal cases

Burden of Proof
The

burden of proof lies on the prosecution in

criminal case.
In a civil case, both parties present their arguments
and must convince the court of their correctness.

THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IN

PAKISTAN

Legislative powers are divided between

federation and provincial assemblies
Federal and provincial legislatures are
supreme in their respective fields

PARLIAMENT AT WORK

Introduction of Bill
Reference to the concerned Standing Committee
Consideration in the Standing Committee
Report of the Standing Committee before House
Consideration of the bill (First Reading)
Clause by clause Consideration (Second Reading)
Passing of Bill (Third Reading)
Transmission of Bill to Other House
Same Process shall be followed in the Other
House
If Passed, Bill shall be sent for Presidential Assent