1. Chapter 1.1
Foundations of Law

2. Bell Ringer #1
Write this sentence in your notebook and complete it. Explain!
“If our country did not have a legal system, it would ____________.”

3. Bell Ringer #2
Write this sentence in your notebook and complete it. Write good reasons and bad reasons for this Amendment.
“The 26th Amendment did this_______.”

4. Decision Making
Morality - values that govern a group’s ideas about right and wrong.
Ethics - rules use to determine difference between right and wrong.

5. 4 Ways to Make Ethical Decisions:
Greatest Good Principal
Golden Rule
Real World Ethics
Ethical Character Traits

6. 4 types of character traits:
Honesty
Justice
Compassion
Integrity

7. Examples Give an example of each Rule, Principal, and Character Trait.
Which of these rules guide your decision making process?

8. Scenario
As you walk down the street you found a wallet full of money on the ground. You placed an ad in the lost and found section of the local paper. After a month of running the ad no one has responded to it.
Is it your ethical duty to find the rightful owner?

9. 5 Main Sources of Laws Constitutional Law Common Law
Statutes and the Civil Law System
Court Decisions
Administrative Regulations

10. Constitutional Law
Federal Constitution
State Constitutions

11. Federal Constitution Most basic law
Tells us how the government operates.

12. Branches of the Gvn’t Legislative Branch - passes the laws (article 1)
Executive Branch - upholds the laws (article 2)
Judiciary Branch - interprets the laws (article 3)

13. Remaining Articles
Article 4 - each state must accept the laws of other states.
Article 5 - how laws can be added
Article 6 - Supremacy Clause
Article 7 - How to approve the constitution (already done )

14. Amendments 27 Amendments First 10 - Bill of Rights
Limits power of the government
Protects our individual rights and freedoms

15. Important Amendments 1st - protects freedom of speech,
religion, assembly and press
13th - abolished slavery
16th - imposed income taxes
19th - women right to vote
26th - lowered voting age to 18

16. State Constitutions Similar to the US Constitution 3 branches
More detailed

17. Common Law Laws made by the court Other courts must follow
Origination - English common law
Doctrine of Precedent

18. Statutes and the Civil Law System
Civil laws based on statutes rather than court decisions.

19. Federal Statutes Laws passed by Congress Signed by the President
Matters that deal with the nation
Cannot conflict with the US Constitution.

20. State Statutes Each state creates statutory laws
Orders people to do something
Cannot conflict with the Constitution
UCC - Uniform Commercial Code
Commerce Clause
Read example on page 13.

21. Ordinances Local governments create laws that affect their citizens
Parking, weed control, noise ordinances, etc…

22. Court Decisions
Case law
Court decisions
Judge-made law

23. How courts make laws Common Law Traditions Interpreting Statutes
Judicial Review
*Supreme Court has the last say

24. Administrative Regulations
Have knowledge on certain fields that legislatures don’t
Final decision can be reviewed by the courts.

25. International Law International treaties are like Federal Statutes.
International Agreements (trade agreements) - tells how countries should interact within the international community.

26. Questions What is the difference between morality and ethics?
What is the difference between law and ethics
Why is the law necessary?
What are the five primary sources of the law in the US?