1. Street Law
Chapter 1

2. Law
Rules and regulations made and enforced by government that regulate conduct within a society
Jurisprudence- the study of law and legal philosophy
Home, School, Outside World
Without law there would be confusion and disorder
No one is above the law. (Laws are the same for all.)

3. Laws and Values Laws are influenced by society’s ideas of right/wrong
Laws must balance minority rights with majority rule along with responsibilities
As values change, so do laws

4. Goals of Legal System Protect human rights Promote fairness
Help resolve conflict
Promote social order and stability
Promote desirable social and economic behavior
Represent the will of the majority
Protect the rights of minorities

5. Values Creating Laws Moral Economic Political Social Environment
Killing, Stealing (wrong, loss of property, punishment, respect)
Economic
Tax benefits to home owners, right to hold a job with fair and safe working conditions, adequate pay, right to own property
Political
Vote, freedom of speech, religion, press, participate in gov’t
Social
Free public education, food, housing, health care
Environment
Right to live in clean, safe environment

6. Can Laws Solve Social Problems?
Alcoholism
Drug Abuse

7. Which Value is Involved?
Economic, Social, Political, or Moral?
All drivers must stop at stop signs.
It is a crime to cheat on your tax return.
All citizens may vote at age eighteen.
Special government programs lend money to minority-owned businesses at low interest rates.
Government officials may not accept gifts from people who want them to pass certain laws.
Possession of marijuana is a crime.

8. Answers All drivers must stop at stop signs. S
It is a crime to cheat on your tax return. E
All citizens may vote at age eighteen. P
Special government programs lend money to minority-owned businesses at low interest rates. E
Government officials may not accept gifts from people who want them to pass certain laws. M
Possession of marijuana is a crime. M

9. A democratic system of government cannot function unless the law is respected. Society must be based on the “rule of law”. ALL MEMBERS of society must support the legal system. No one can be above the law.

10. The Case of the Shipwrecked Sailors
Read the case 1.2 on page 6
Answer questions a-f

11. Human Rights
Rights that belong to all people simply because they are human beings
Dignity and respect
Homes, schools, workplaces

12. What human rights are important to others?
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
Protects freedoms of speech, religion, press, and right to participate in government
Adequate food, education, housing, health care
Job, safe working conditions, salary, own property
Countries use human rights when writing laws
Human Rights in USA pg. 11
Read and answer a-b
Discuss with class

13. Balancing Rights with Responsibilities
With every right comes a responsibility
Trial by jury- serve on a jury
Democracy- vote
Attend school- _________________________
Just because you have the right to do something does not mean that you should
Freedom of speech- hateful/abusive words

14. Kinds of Laws Criminal Law Regulate public conduct in society
Brought by the gov’t
Punished by prison, fine, supervision
Two categories
Felonies- punished by more than one year in prison
Murder, robbery
Misdemeanor- punished by less than one year in prison/fine
Assault, theft

15. Civil Law Regulate argument between two people
Brought by one person against another
Court can award money for damages

16. Trial Defendant- person accused of crime
Plaintiff- person harmed by defendant
Prosecutor- lawyer helping plaintiff
Burden of Proof
Beyond a reasonable doubt- every person on the jury must be certain the defendant committed the crime
One juror that believes the defendant is innocent will set the defendant free
Criminal Cases
Preponderance of evidence- the evidence shows the defendant PROBABLY committed the crime
Civil Cases

17. Criminal or Civil Laws?
Problem 1.7 pg. 15
Read and answer a-c

18. Our Constitutional Framework
Highest law in land
Limited government
Checks and Balances
Bill of Rights
First 10 Amendments
Separation of powers
3 branches: executive (President), legislative (Congress), judicial (Supreme Court)

19. Legislative Branch Congress
Two houses: Senate and House of Representatives
Writes/Passes laws (Statutes)
Laws must pass both houses
Can override Presidential Veto with 2/3 vote

20. Executive Branch
Veto- cancel a law written by Congress

21. Judicial Branch Judicial review- examines a law from Congress
Unconstitutional- violates the Constitution and cannot exist
Congress does not have authority to pass law (State issue)
Federalism (State, Federal, Both Powers)
Congress passed a law that violates the Constitution

22. Constitutional Principles
Problem 1.8: Is it separation of powers, checks and balances, judicial review, federalism, or a combo?
A state law requires that a prayer be said each day in public schools. The courts rule that the law violates a First Amendment clause that prohibits the government from establishing a religion.
The U.S. Congress passes a law requiring that Supreme Court sessions be televised.
Because a prison is very old and overcrowded, a state court orders the state legislature to spend $100 million on a new prison.

23. The courts prevent the state from passing a law that violates the Constitution (checks and balances) and have the authority to invalidate such a law (judicial review).
When the legislative branch puts requirements on the day-to-day operations of the judiciary, it raises a genuine question about the separation of powers. An argument for allowing this law is that Congress funds the Court and might be able to condition the Court’s funding on its televising public sessions.
The state court prevents the legislature from subjecting the prisoners to unconstitutional deprivation of rights (checks and balances). However, the court does not have the power to spend the money directly (separation of powers).