1. Unit 7: The American Legal System

2. Ch. 19: Laws and Our Society
Focus: What is the purpose of laws, how are they made, and what are the different type of laws?

3. Section 1: Why We Have Laws
Society needs order
Ex: Drivers drive on the right hand side of the rd.
Protect Safety and Property
Ex: Murder and Car Theft are Illegal
Protect Freedom and Society
Ex: You have the right to believe in any religion you want, but you can’t force others to believe the same.
Reflect Shared Values and Beliefs
Ex: Most people believe it’s wrong to lie, so you can’t be dishonest if you are a witness in a court room.
*Civil Disobedience: when you break a law in a nonviolent way because the law goes against your personal morals.
Ex: The law says you must be 21 to buy bananas, but HS student Billy Bob believes young people should have the right to buy bananas at any age, so he tries to buy bananas at Food Lion.

4. Section 2: Where Our Laws Come From
*Key Concept*: Most laws come from legislatures, but some laws come from judges decisions and regulations made by government agencies.

5. Where Our Laws Come From
Statutes: written laws made by legislatures
Ex: Windsor City Council says it is illegal to litter.
Common Law: body of law based on judges decisions
Ex: Companies use rivers to power factories, so judges declare it legal for companies to build dams.
Regulations by Govt. Agencies
Ex: The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) sets emission standards on cars based on legislation.

6. Section 3: Kinds of Laws
Criminal Law: group of laws that tell which acts are crimes, how accused persons should be tried in court, and how crimes should be punished.
Ex: Breaking and entering someone’s home is illegal and punishable by time in jail
Felony: serious crime which can result in imprisonment for more than a year
Misdemeanor: less serious crime which usually results in a fine

7. Kinds of Laws
Civil Law: the group of laws that help settle disagreements between people
Ex: You buy an ipad from a store, it doesn’t work, but the store owner refuses to take it back. You can file a complaint and take the store owner to court.

8. Ch. 19 Quick Review Are laws truly necessary? Why?
Where do our laws come from?
Can you explain the difference between Criminal and Civil Law?

9. Ch. 19 Assessment Page 532 Complete # 1 – 11; 17 Reviewing Key Terms
Write out the sentence with correct term underlined.
Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Activities
Write out the question and your response.
* Turn in for a grade when completed..