1. STREET LAW
Chapter 1: What Is Law

2. WHAT IS LAW
Rules and regulations made and enforced by government that regulate the conduct of people within a society.
Child: rules at home and at school
home- bedtime, chores
school- classroom and school behaviors
Rules made and enforced by the government are laws
Why do you think laws are important?
Laws affect almost every aspect of daily life
Without laws there would be disorder and confusion
Complete problem 1.1

3. PROBLEM 1.1
Read problem 1.1 on page 5 of your textbook. Be prepared to share your answers and defend them.

4. LAW AND VALUES
Law and Values
Legal System Goals
Protecting basic human rights
Promoting fairness
Helping resolve conflicts
Promoting order and stability
Promoting desirable social and economic behavior
Representing the will of the majority
Protecting the rights of minotorities
Legal system is influenced by our society’s traditional idea of right and wrong

5. LAW AND VALUES Laws can be based on 4 different values: Moral Value
Economic Value
Political Value
Social Value
As values change so can laws

6. Moral Values Fundamental questions of right and wrong
Example: Laws against killing people
What are some circumstances where society allows for the killing of people?
Have class answer discussion question.

7. Economic Value
Deal with accumulation, preservation, use and distribution of wealth.
Many laws promote economic values
Let’s read on page 7 the examples
Second paragraph on page 7 shows examples of promoting economic values. Can the students think of any other examples.

8. Political Values
Reflects the relationship between government and individuals
Laws making it easier to vote promote citizen participation in political process
Citizen participation is basic American political value

9. Social Values Concern issues that are important to society
Social values can change
What laws do you think deal with social values?

10. Problem 1.3 Pg. 8
For each of the following laws, indicate whether moral, economic, political or social values are involved. Explain your responses.
All drives must stop at stop signs.
It is a crime to cheat on your tax return.
All citizens may vote at age 18.
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.

11. HUMAN RIGHTS All the rights people have because they are human beings.
Advocating human rights:
Demand the dignity of all humans be respected.
Where do people’s human right’s apply?
Homes
Schools Everywhere
Workplace
People’s human rights apply everywhere
Bonus assignment:
Read the section on human rights. Pages Then answer the problem 1.5 questions on page 11.

12. KINDS OF LAWS CRIMINAL LAWS CIVIL LAWS
Regulate public conduct and set out duties owed to society.
Brought by the government against a person committing a crime
2 types of criminal laws:
Felonies
Misdemeanors
Regulate relations between individuals or groups of individuals
Civil Action- lawsuit brought against one person by another person
Regulate- marriage, divorce, contracts, real estate, insurance, consumer protection and negligence
Felonies- penalty more than one year in prison
examples- murder and robbery
Misdemeanors- penalty less than one year in prison
examples- simple assault and minor
Read and discuss the participants in trials and discuss difference in criminal and civil case against O.J. Simpson on pgs. 13 and 14.
Homework/Classwork: problem 1.7

13. OUR CONSTITUTIONAL FRAME WORK
Limited government:
-to keep the federal government from having too much power
Checks and Balances:
-to prevent one branch of the U.S. government from becoming too powerful
Reasons Supreme Court can declare a law unconstitutional:
Government passed a laws the Constitution does not give it power to pass
Passed a laws that violates someone’s rights.
What is the Bill of Rights? First 10 ammendments to the constitution
Complete problem 1.8 in class.