Final answer:
A tort falls under civil law as it pertains to private disputes between individuals rather than offenses against the state, which are covered by criminal law.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between civil and criminal law is primarily who the legal action is being brought by and the nature of the legal dispute. In criminal law, the government charges an individual with a crime, which can result in serious penalties such as imprisonment. Crimes are categorized as felonies or misdemeanors based on their severity. On the other hand, civil law concerns private disputes between individuals or organizations. A tort, which is a wrongful act causing harm, falls under civil law because it involves these kinds of private disputes.
Both state and federal courts can hear civil and criminal matters. For example, a criminal case may involve a violation of state law and be heard in a state court or a violation of federal law and be heard in a federal court. Similarly, civil cases can arise out of state law (such as personal injury cases) or federal law (like employment discrimination).
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is 'a. Civil law; it involves private disputes between individuals.' A tort is a component of civil law because it involves claims of harm or injury caused by one party to another, which does not directly involve the state as in criminal law.