Why do we obey the law? Legal Studies 3C

Who has disobeyed the law? Examples: Underage drinking Driving over the speed limit Driving with no license Fake ID’s Illegal downloading

Emily Baxter’s project We Are All Criminals Baxter is exploring the idea of what it means to be a criminal, and what it means to live with the consequences. In the USA, one in four people has a criminal record which means they can be banned from jobs, from housing, from voting, and even from owning a dog.

Scenario 1: You are approached by a friend who invites you to join him in a computer crime which cannot be detected. It involves taking one cent from every bank account in the Australian banking system. At the end of one month you will both have over $1,000,000 (to answer this you must accept that this crime really cannot be detected). Q: Would you go ahead with your friend and commit the crime? Give reasons for your decision.

Scenario 2: Your friend has invited you to join him and another friend in an armed bank robbery. There is no chance that you will be detected. Your friend will have disabled the camera in the bank. You will be wearing gloves and a balaclava helmet, and the police and security guards are on strike. The amount of money involved is over $3,000,000 in used notes. Q: Would you join your friend in the armed robbery? Give reasons for your decision.

Scenario 3: You are driving a motor car. It is a fine sunny day. The speed limit is 70 km per hour but you are on a straight stretch of road and there are no police cars in the area and no speed cameras. Your friend who is a passenger suggests that you put your foot down and speed at 100 km per hour. Q: Would you do as your friend suggests? Give reasons for your decision.

To what extent do we obey the law because of: Conscience? Fear of being caught? Fear of being punished?

Why do we obey laws? Authority of the state, which makes the law Out of habit It is relevant to social circumstances and attitudes It is consistent with prevailing moral attitudes People fear the legal consequences of disobedience

Is it sometimes necessary to disobey the law?

News articles Answer the following questions for EACH article: What law(s) have been disobeyed? Explain why you think this person is justified or unjustified in disobeying the law. *You may want to refer to why laws are needed (textbook)

Find an article in the paper where a controversial law is being discussed… What is the law/legal issue being discussed? Why is it controversial? (Does it align with the reasons we have laws? Is it fair?)