Question 11
What does a lay judge do in Germany? She/He…
German original: Was macht eine Schöffin / ein Schöffe in Deutschland? Sie/Er …. In the test, all questions are asked in German.
Answer options
- decides together with judges about guilt and punishment. — Correct answer
- gives citizens legal advice.
- issues official documents.
- defends the defendant.
Explanation
Lay judges (Schöffen) are honorary judges who decide on guilt and sentencing together with professional judges. They have full voting rights in deliberations.
Key terms in this question
- Germany — Germany is a country in central Europe with a parliamentary democracy. It is a member of the European Union and its capital is Berlin.
- power — Power is the ability or authority to make decisions and influence or control other people or events.
- lay judge (female) — A lay judge is a female citizen who volunteers to participate in criminal court proceedings in Germany. She is not a trained lawyer but works together with professional judges to decide on guilt and sentencing.
- Federal state — A federal state is one of the 16 regions that together form Germany. Each state has its own government, parliament, and areas of responsibility.
- German — German is the official language of Germany, Austria, and part of Switzerland. It is the native language of approximately 100 million people.
- power — Power is the ability or authority to make decisions and influence other people or events. In politics, it refers to the authority to create and enforce laws.
- lay judge — A lay judge is a volunteer citizen who participates in court proceedings alongside professional judges and helps decide verdicts. Lay judges are ordinary people elected to serve in this role in the German court system.