Street Law CHAPTER 1 Law Rules and regulations

Street Law CHAPTER 1

Law �Rules and regulations made and enforced by government that regulate conduct within a society �Jurisprudence- the study of law and legal philosophy �Home, School, Outside World �Without law there would be confusion and disorder �No one is above the law. (Laws are the same for all. )

Laws and Values �Laws are influenced by society’s ideas of right/wrong �Laws must balance minority rights with majority rule along with responsibilities �As values change, so do laws

Goals of Legal System �Protect human rights �Promote fairness �Help resolve conflict �Promote social order and stability �Promote desirable social and economic behavior �Represent the will of the majority �Protect the rights of minorities

Values Creating Laws �Moral Killing �Economic Tax benefits to home owners �Political Vote �Social Free public education �Combined Values Stealing (wrong, loss of property, punishment, respect)

Can Laws Solve Social Problems? �Alcoholism �Drug Abuse

Which Value is Involved? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Economic, Social, Political, or Moral? All drivers must stop at stop signs. It is a crime to cheat on your tax return. All citizens may vote at age eighteen. Special government programs lend money to minority-owned businesses at low interest rates. Government officials may not accept gifts from people who want them to pass certain laws. Possession of marijuana is a crime.

The Case of the Shipwrecked Sailors �Read the case on page 6 �Answer questions A-F �Discuss with class

Human Rights �Rights that belong to all people simply because they are human beings �Dignity and respect �Homes, schools, workplaces

What human rights are important to you? �Problem 1. 4 pg. 10 �Answer questions a-f �Discuss with class

What human rights are important to others? �Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) Protects freedoms of speech, religion, press, and right to participate in government Adequate food, education, housing, health care Job, safe working conditions, salary, own property �Countries use human rights when writing laws �Human Rights in USA pg. 10 Read answer a-c Discuss with class

Balancing Rights with Responsibilities �With every right comes a responsibility Trial by jury- serve on a jury Democracy- vote Attend school- _____________ �Just because you have the right to do something does not mean that you should Freedom of speech- hateful/abusive words

Kinds of Laws �Criminal Law Public conduct in society Punished by prison, fine, supervision Felonies- punished by more than one year in prison � Murder, robbery Misdemeanor- punished by less than one year in prison/fine � Assault, theft �Civil Law Argument between two people Lawsuit for cash

Trial �Defendant- person accused of crime �Plaintiff- person harmed by defendant �Prosecutor- lawyer helping plaintiff �Beyond a reasonable doubt- every person on the jury must be certain the defendant committed the crime One juror that believes the defendant is innocent will set the defendant free Criminal Cases �Preponderance of evidence- the evidence shows the defendant PROBABLY committed the crime Civil Cases

Our Constitutional Framework �Highest law in land �Limited government Checks and Balances �Bill of Rights First 10 Amendments �Separation of powers 3 branches: executive (President), legislative (Congress), judicial (Supreme Court)

Legislative Branch �Congress Two houses: Senate and House of Representatives Writes/Passes laws (Statutes) Laws must pass both houses Can override Presidential Veto with 2/3 vote

Executive Branch �Veto- cancel a law written by Congress

Judicial Branch �Judicial review- examines a law from Congress �Unconstitutional- violates the Constitution and cannot exist Congress does not have authority to pass law (State issue) � Federalism (State, Federal, Both Powers) Congress passed a law that violates the Constitution

Chapter 1 Project �Laws �Human Rights �Constitution �The Bill of Rights protects our freedoms as American citizens. Using your book pg. 591 -593, list Amendments 1 -10. Then explain what human right is being protected by each Amendment. Then examine each Amendment again. Are there any laws that limit these rights? Explain the law and why the limit exists.

Example Chapter 1 Project � 1 st Amendment: Freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, petition �Human rights- worship god of choice, make complaints in order to make change �Laws that limit those rights- no human sacrifices/abuse in the name of religion, cannot yell “Fire” in a movie theater, cannot print false statements about someone/business