Which system features a courtroom where prosecution and defense call and cross-examine witnesses before a neutral judge?

• A. Crime Control Model
• B. Due Process Model
• C. Inquisitorial System
• D. Adversarial System

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is the adversarial structure of a criminal trial. In this system, two sides—the prosecution and the defense—face off in a contest to establish the truth. Each side has the opportunity to call witnesses and present evidence, and they also cross-examine the other side’s witnesses to test reliability and credibility. A neutral judge (and sometimes a jury) presides to ensure rules are followed and to render the final decision. This courtroom dynamic—two sides presenting their case, challenging each other’s testimony, and a neutral decision-maker overseeing the process—defines the adversarial system.

This contrasts with the inquisitorial approach, where the court itself takes a more active role in investigating the facts, directing the inquiry, and questioning witnesses. The crime control and due process viewpoints describe broader aims of the system rather than a specific courtroom procedure, so they don’t pinpoint the witness examination setup as clearly as the adversarial framework does.