Which of the following is a characteristic of civil law?

Civil law primarily addresses disputes between individuals or entities, rather than focusing on offenses against the state. In civil law, the aim is to resolve conflicts that arise from personal or commercial relationships, such as contract disputes, property issues, or family law matters. Unlike criminal law, which imposes penalties and sanctions on individuals or groups who commit crimes against society or the state, civil law seeks to provide remedies to aggrieved parties, often through monetary compensation or specific performance.

Disputes in civil law can involve a wide range of issues, including torts, contracts, and fiduciary responsibilities. The hallmark of civil law systems is the emphasis on private grievances rather than public order, which is why understanding disputes between individuals is fundamental to this area of law.

While other options, such as penal sanctions or criminal acts legislation, pertain to criminal law, and judicial review relates to the evaluation of laws’ adherence to constitutional principles, they do not define the characteristics of civil law. Thus, the focus on individual disputes distinctly categorizes civil law from the other branches of law.