1. Sources of American Law Common Law
Made by Judges in the process of resolving cases.
Sometimes called case law.
Based on usage in English courts.

2. Sources of American Law Equity Law
Law that resolves issues based fairness
Law from England that has merged with common law in America
Title IX of NCAA

3. Sources of American Law Constitutional Law
America’s most important source of law
Written in 1787
Amended 27 Times
First 10 Amendments the Bill of Rights

4. Sources of American Law Statutory Law
Law made by legislatures at the National, State, and Local Levels.
Based on Roman principals of writing down laws of their senate.
2-1A

5. Of these four bodies of law which grew the fastest?
A) Common Law
B) Equity Law
C) Constitutional Law
D) Statutory Law

6. British Influence in America
Early Colonists had a strong sense of loyalty to England
Had strong sense of English political traditions
They accepted common law and believed the ruler was not above the law
Colonists expected to have a voice in the government
Colony-group of people in one place who are ruled by a parent country elsewhere.

7. Jamestown First permanent English settlement in the colonies
Founded 1607 by the Virginia company
King James I granted a charter to the Company
Charter- a document granting land & authority to set up a colonial government

8. Jamestown
The Charter granted “all liberties as if they had been abiding and born within this our realm of England.”

9. Virginia House of Burgesses
first legislature anywhere in the English colonies in America
it first met on July 30, 1619, at a church in Jamestown
first session was cut short because of an outbreak of malaria

10. Virginia House of Burgesses
became a symbol of representative government
Among the 22 members was the governor, who was appointed by officials of the Virginia Company in London.