History of Our Laws

Where do our laws come from? Hammurabi’s Code English Common Law Religion Law of Draco Justinian’s Code Napoleonic Code Magna Carta

Hammurabi’s Code Babylonia 1760 B.C Consisted of harsh penalties People presumed innocent The First written set of laws “Eye for an Eye” What does that mean to you? Do you agree with this?

English Common Law England Based on court decisions rather than on a legal code Uses precedent (stare decisis) Legal opinions based on previous rulings Settlers brought these laws over when they came to North America during the 1600s and 1700s

Religion/The Bible Hebrew tradition, Around 1200 B.C. Ten Commandments Rules that everyone is supposed to follow in order to live a moral life Moral rules What are some morals we get from the Bible/10 Commandments? Separation of church and state?

Draco’s Law Athens, Greece 620 BC Very chaotic society, martial law was needed Codified law in Athens Developed the idea of manslaughter/intent Marked with extreme cruelty as punishments Punishment of deaths for most offenses

Justinian’s Code Byzantine Empire 533 AD Took all the laws of the Roman Empire and compiled them into a body of rules Simplified Roman Law A set punishment for each crime Influenced Napoleonic Code

Napoleonic Code France 1800s Updated version of Justinian’s Code Better version, we used this as our example No mitigating circumstances Louisiana’s laws are still based on the Napoleonic Code Used in Louisiana; why?

Magna Carta England 1215 AD Nobles forced King John to sign this document Protected the nobles’ privileges and authority Granted rights to landholders Where have we heard these before? Equal treatment under the law No one would be above the law Right to a jury trial Due Process