FUNCTIONS OF THE LAW WHAT IS LAW Laws

FUNCTIONS OF THE LAW

WHAT IS LAW? � Laws- a set of rules that allow people to live together

WHAT THE LAW DOES � Laws do EVERYTHING! � Laws govern (Examples) 1. How we drive our cars 2. The safety of the food we eat 3. Our business transactions 4. What happens when we are born and what happens when we die

TWO TYPES OF LAWS � Criminal Law � Civil Law

THE PURPOSE OF LAWS � CRIMINAL LAW FUNCTIONS � Laws main purpose is to protect us from one another. � To maintain peace and prevent violent acts � Provides punishment/justice for those individuals who step outside the realm of the law.

THE PURPOSE OF LAWS � CIVIL LAW FUNCTIONS � Resolution to disputes among people � Disagreements on issues such as 1. Money 2. Property 3. Contracts

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD LAWS � Laws should be reasonable � Laws should be understandable (so people don’t accidently violate them not knowingly) � Good laws are enforceable

GOOD LAWS � Good laws are by design to be fair and beneficial. � A good way to determine this is if people in similar circumstances' are able to be treated equally. (Think Precedent) � Example: Traffic Fines (work the same way for every violator)

WHAT ARE GOOD LAWS? � � � North Carolina State Law If a man and a woman who aren’t married go to a hotel/motel and register themselves as married then, according to state law, they are legally married. It is illegal to sneeze on city streets - Ashville, NC Some laws are clearly silly. Source: http: //www. stupidlaws. com/if-a-man-and-a-woman-who-arent-married-go-to-a-hotelmoteland-register-themselves-as-married-then-according-to-state-law-they-are-legally-married/