STREET LAW Chapter 1 What Is Law WHAT

STREET LAW Chapter 1: What Is Law

WHAT IS LAW Rules and regulations made and enforced by government that regulate the conduct of people within a society.

PROBLEM 1. 1 Read problem 1. 1 on page 5 of your textbook. Be prepared to share your answers and defend them.

LAW AND VALUES Law and Values � Legal system is influenced by our society’s traditional idea of right and wrong Legal System Goals 1. Protecting basic human rights 2. Promoting fairness 3. Helping resolve conflicts 4. Promoting order and stability 5. Promoting desirable social and economic behavior 6. Representing the will of the majority 7. Protecting the rights of minotorities

LAW AND VALUES � Laws can be based on 4 different values: � Moral Value � Economic Value � Political Value � Social Value

Moral Values • Fundamental questions of right and wrong • Example: Laws against killing people • What are some circumstances where society allows for the killing of people?

Economic Value • Deal with accumulation, preservation, use and distribution of wealth. • Many laws promote economic values • Let’s read on page 7 the examples

Political Values • Reflects the relationship between government and individuals • Laws making it easier to vote promote citizen participation in political process • Citizen participation is basic American political value

Social Values • Concern issues that are important to society • Social values can change • What laws do you think deal with social values?

Problem 1. 3 Pg. 8 For each of the following laws, indicate whether moral, economic, political or social values are involved. Explain your responses. A. All drives must stop at stop signs. B. It is a crime to cheat on your tax return. C. All citizens may vote at age 18. D. Special government programs lend money to minority-owned businesses at low interest rates. E. Government officials may not accept gifts from people who want them to pass certain laws. F. Possession of marijuana is a crime.

HUMAN RIGHTS � All the rights people have because they are human beings. � Advocating human rights: � Demand the dignity of all humans be respected. � Where do people’s human right’s apply? � Homes � Schools � Workplace Everywhere

KINDS OF LAWS CRIMINAL LAWS � Regulate public conduct and set out duties owed to society. � Brought by the government against a person committing a crime � 2 types of criminal laws: Felonies � Misdemeanors � CIVIL LAWS � Regulate relations between individuals or groups of individuals � Civil Action- lawsuit brought against one person by another person � Regulate- marriage, divorce, contracts, real estate, insurance, consumer protection and negligence

OUR CONSTITUTIONAL FRAME WORK � Limited government: -to keep the federal government from having too much power � Checks and Balances: -to prevent one branch of the U. S. government from becoming too powerful � Reasons Supreme Court can declare a law unconstitutional: 1. 2. Government passed a laws the Constitution does not give it power to pass Passed a laws that violates someone’s rights.