Lecturer: Miljen Matijašević G10, room 6/I, Tue 15:30-16:30 Session 2, 10 Oct 2014

1. What is meant by Law? 2. Separation of powers

Unit 1

Try to think of a definition of LAW! Can you think of any synonyms? Rule Regulation Statute

From Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 1. (U) all the rules established by authority or custom for regulating the behaviour of members of a community or country 2. (C) any single rule established in this way 3. (U) a branch of such rules 4. (U) such rules as a subject of study

From the law.com dictionary: 1. a statute, ordinance or regulation enacted by the legislative branch of a government and signed into law, or in some nations created by decree without any democratic process

 “rules of conduct imposed by a state upon its members and enforced by the courts.” neglect infraction  anthropological definition: a norm is a law “if neglect or infraction is regularly met, in threat or in fact, by the application of physical force by an individual or group possessing the socially recognized privilege of so acting.”

 sociological definition by Max Weber: coercion conformity violation a rule, or an order, is a law if “it is externally guaranteed by the probability that coercion (physical or psychological), to bring about conformity or avenge violation, will be applied by a staff of people holding themselves specially ready for that purpose.”

(a/the/ Ø ) LAW Laws of a country Regulation Rule (a law, laws, the law) Field of law Legal system Branch of knowledge (law) The courts The police The legal profession (the law)

1. Stealing is against the LAW. 2. The new LAW on tourism comes into force next month. 3. Her brother specialises in family LAW. 4. Jane finished LAW school but she doesn’t practice LAW. 5. The new car model defies the LAWS of physics. 6. He has had some problems with the LAW. 7. Most countries of Europe are continental civil LAW countries. 8. We will see what the LAW has to say about that!

 to lay down the law  to enforce the law  to break the law  to enact law  to interpret the law  to practise law  to violate a law  to abide by the law  the rule of law

 to lay down the law – propisivati zakone  to enforce the law – provoditi zakone  to break the law – prekršiti zakon  to enact law – usvojiti, propisivati zakone  to interpret the law – tumačiti zakon  to practise law – biti odvjetnik  to violate a law – prekršiti zakon  to abide by the law – pridržavati se zakona  the rule of law – vladavina prava, pravna država

 making laws  enforcing laws  collecting tax  creating policies, strategies and plans on spending tax money  etc.

The Legislative The Executive The Judiciary What are the powers of each branch? Which bodies represent the three branches of power in Croatia?

THE LEGISLATIVE – enacts laws, usually in the hands of parliaments, i.e. the legislature, elected (chosen) by and represents THE PEOPLE THE EXECUTIVE – proposes laws, implements policies, ‘runs the country’, usually the government and/or the president of a country, government departments (ministries) and other executive bodies THE JUDICIARY – usually independent, the power lies in the system of courts, administers justice, enforces laws The idea is to prevent any branch from having absolute power. Each branch is involved in controlling the work of the other two, although in different ways.

 THE LEGISLATIVE – the Croatian Parliament (Hrvatski Sabor)  THE EXECUTIVE – the Government of the RC (Vlada RH) and other administrative bodies (ministries, agencies, etc.), and the President of the RC  THE JUDICIARY – the Croatian court system: the Supreme Court of the RC (Vrhovni sud RH) and other courts

 Do not confuse the terms  Do not confuse the terms: ◦ legislation – zakonodavstvo (zakoni npr. jedne države) ◦ the legislative (power) – zakonodavna vlast ◦ the legislature – zakonodavno tijelo (najčešće parlament) ◦ the judiciary – sudstvo, sudska vlast ◦ judicial, adj. – sudski, sudački (e.g. judicial office – sudačka dužnost)

Thank you for your attention!