Chapter 15 Law in America

Section 15.1 Sources of American Law

Reflection Question Do we really need laws to organize our society? Can’t we just figure it out?

Key Terms Define – constitutional law, statute, ordinances, administrative law, common law, due process, adversary system, presumed innocence

In the Beginning … It started with the club and fist. Now we’ve progressed (some might say devolved) to our modern system of laws and courts to regulate American society.

The set of rules and standards by which a society governs itself is known as law.

The laws that govern our lives and protect our rights are commonly known as constitutional law, statutory law, administrative law, common law, and equity. These laws come from several sources including state and federal constitutions, lawmaking bodies, administrative agencies, and court decisions.

Constitutional Law For the most part, cases involving constitutional law decide the limits of the government’s power and the rights of the individual.

Constitutional Law (cont.) State courts decide cases involving state constitutions. Sometimes differences between a state and the federal constitution causes conflicts. Yet, since we have a federal system. In the end, the U.S. Supreme Court has the final word on the meaning of the U.S. Constitution.

Statutory Law A statute is a law written by a legislative branch of government. Statutes may limit citizens’ behavior or guarantee rights or benefits. Most decision of federal courts deal with federal statutory law. Many Supreme Court cases are devoted to interpreting the constitutionality of statutory laws.

Administrative Law The vast number or local, state, and national agencies that run government programs and run services are governed by administrative law.

Administrative Law (cont.) Many administrative law cases deal with problems of fairness and due process because many administrative agencies either regulate people’s behavior, or deny government benefits such as welfare payments or medical insurance.

Common Law Read together the two paragraphs on Common Law on pg. 426.

Adversary system contoversies P. 428

Legal System Principles Four basic principles underlie the operation of both federal and state courts and the actions of the thousands of men and women who serve in the American legal system.

Equal Justice Under the Law In theory, every person, regardless of wealth, social status, ethnic group, gender, or age, is entitled to the full protection of the law.

Due Process of Law A principle in the Fifth Amendment stating that the government must follow proper constitutional procedures in trials and in other actions it takes against individuals. Also, the Fourteenth Amendment clause stating that no state may deprive a person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.

The Adversary System This system describes how our court trials operate. In function, the courtroom is like an arena in which lawyers for the opposing sides try to present their strongest cases. The judge is supposed to remain impartial to either side and focus instead on the fair implementation of the law.

The Adversary System (cont.) Some observers of the judicial system have attacked the adversary system. They have claimed that it encourages lawyers to ignore evidence not favorable to their sides and to be more concerned about victory than justice. Supporters of the adversary system, on the other hand, maintain that the system is the best way to bring out the facts of the case.

Presumption of Innocence A defendant in a case does not have to prove their innocence. That burden falls on the prosecution. This principle is not in our constitution. It is deeply rooted in English legal heritage. In addition, this principle is intended to be a balance to the power of the police.

Section 5.1 Assessment Answer the three Questions to Consider on pg. 429 about the Supreme Court case, Thompson v. Oklahoma, 1988.