1. Laws are rules for conduct that are established by government
Laws are rules for conduct that are established by government. Citizens are required to follow these rules and face consequences if they fail to do so. The severity of the consequence depends on the nature of the law that they violate.
The first known set of laws is the Code of Hammurabi, which was compiled sometime between 1792 BCE and 1750 BCE when Hammurabi was the king of Babylon. The Code of Hammurabi lists 282 rules and consequences for a variety of actions. Included among these rules are the concepts of “an eye for an eye” (“If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out”) and “a tooth for a tooth” (“If a man knock out the teeth of his equal, his teeth shall be knocked out”).
Why is it important for a society to have laws? Write 2-3 sentences for your answer.

2. What is Law?

3. Law (n.)
Rules and regulations made and enforced by government that regulate the conduct of people in a society.

4. “Good” Laws To be effective, laws must be… CLEAR CONSISTANT FAIR
Words reflect the intent of the lawmakers
CONSISTANT
FAIR
Constitutional
ENFORCEABLE

5. Reasons for Laws Protect basic human rights Promote Fairness
Help Resolve Conflicts
Promote Order and Stability
Promote Desirable Social and Economic Behavior
Represent the will of the majority
Protect the rights of the minority

6. Reasons for Laws 1.) Protect basic human rights
Rights every human, no matter where they live, should have protected
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
Written by United Nations
Not a binding treaty
Agreed to by almost every country in the world, but…

7. Universal Declaration of Human Rights
All humans…
Are born free and equal
Have human rights, regardless of gender, skin color, language, religion, status, etc.
Have the right to live, and to live in freedom and safety
Have freedom from slavery
Have freedom from torture
Have a right to a public, impartial trial
Have a right to free speech
Have a right to their religion
Etc…

8. Reasons for Laws 2.) Promote Fairness Voting Rights Act of 1965
Title IX
Affirmative Action

9. Reasons for Laws 3.) Help Resolve Conflicts
Creation of a tiered court system
Right to trial by jury

10. Reasons for Laws 4.) Promote Order and Stability Laws against murder
Laws against theft

11. Reasons for Laws 5.) Promote desirable social and economic behavior
Tax exemptions
for charities
Financial aid for
college

12. Reasons for Laws 6.) Represent the will of the majority
Jim Crow Laws ( )
Driver’s License

13. Reasons for Laws Protect the rights of the minority
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Affirmative Action
Gay marriage

14. Who is a “Minority?”
A group that experiences a narrowing of opportunities (success, education, wealth, etc) that is disproportionately low compared to their numbers in society.
Can be based on…
Race -Religion -Disability
Ethnicity -Sexuality
Gender -Age …etc.

15. Laws are based on values
Moral Values
Right vs. Wrong
Killing of an enemy
solider?
Killing in self-defense?
Economic Values
Allocation, preservation, use, and distribution of wealth
Tax benefits to those who have a mortgage
Laws against shoplifting to discourage stealing

16. Laws are based on values
Social Values
Issues that are
important to society
Free public education
up to grade 12
Title IX
Political Values
Relationship between the gov’t and individuals
“Motor voter” law
Freedom of Speech

17. Values, especially social values, often change
Just like the goals of the legal system, the values that guide lawmaking can often overlap:
Theft has moral, economic and political issues tied to it.
Can create problems
Values differ based on region, religion, race, age, etc.
Values, especially social values,
often change
Medical marijuana
Gay Marriage
Prohibition ( )

18. Conflict of Values
Some laws designed to protect certain values may interfere with other important values
USA PATRIOT Act of 2001
NSA PRISM Surveillance Program (Edward Snowden)
Both criticized for making certain searches and electronic eavesdropping easier
Both praised for protecting us from terrorist activity