English cadence is characterized by voice leading which entails the seventh degree's dual functionality, and a lowered seventh resolves to the sixth.
This voice leading entails the seventh degree's dual functionality, or its capacity for opposing voice-leading tendencies. That is, a lowered seventh degree resolves downward to the sixth (e.g., BA), while a raised seventh (i.e., a leading tone) resolves upward to the first degree (e.g., BC). 
