What does the term "civil cases" exclude?

The term "civil cases" specifically pertains to legal disputes that arise between individuals or entities, typically involving the payment of damages, enforcement of rights, or compliance with agreements. A key characteristic of civil cases is that they do not involve criminal charges or the prosecution of individuals by the government for violations of criminal law.

Thus, cases based on criminal charges fall outside this category. Criminal cases involve the state prosecuting an individual for offenses that are seen as harming society at large, and they often lead to penalties such as imprisonment, fines, or community service. This distinction is critical in understanding the broader legal system, as civil cases and criminal cases operate under different sets of rules and procedures.

On the other hand, disputes involving financial disagreements, issues of public law, and contractual disagreements are all aspects that can fall under civil law, indicating why they are not excluded from the definition of civil cases.