A constable officer is a law enforcement officer who holds a particular office, most commonly in criminal law enforcement. The role of a constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions, but in general, constables are peace officers who have full powers of arrest, stop, and search within their ward. In some jurisdictions, constables are elected officials who serve four-year terms, while in others, they are appointed by the local civil court system. Constables might perform law enforcement functions similar to police officers, such as making traffic stops or apprehending suspects, or they might serve legal documents as required by the local civil court system. Constables require an extensive knowledge of civil law and the criminal law aspects that may arise from civil law violations. They are certified and sworn peace officers, although they are not tasked with "general law enforcement" duties.