1. Law, Society and Social Science
CJS/LGS/SOC 321
Law, Society and Social Science

2. Prerequisites
Must have an introductory social science course (in college) in criminology, sociology, psychology, or political science
Must have a college-level statistics course
Having taken your research methods course would be very helpful

3. Course Web Page Make sure you have a careful look at this page
Make sure you have a careful look at this page
Print out any additional copies of documents
Descriptions of assignments
Announcements of changes
Glossary of terms
List of reserve readings
Citation format for written work

4. Cliff Donn – “Cliff” to you!
Office – RH 415
Extension –
Office Hours
Monday 9:30-11:15
Tuesday/Thursday 9:15-9:45

5. Sources Text – Larson and Schmidt, The Law & Society Reader II, 2014
Other articles on reserve
Quizzes on the text
Other articles for class discussion

6. Conduct of class Class discussion and discussion of reading material
Attendance
No tardiness tolerated and no leaving early
Cell phones – TURNED OFF
Don’t leave the room

7. Requirements and Policies
Described on course outline and home page
Includes quizzes, journals, case presentations, class participation and final exam
Quiz dates in syllabus and home page
Journals
Case presentations
Open to possibility of other assignments

8. Class Introduction Who are you?
What particular areas of law interest you?

9. Next Time Let’s make sure we understand assignments and requirements
Examine syllabus and home page carefully
Discussion of case presentation assignment
What is law?

10. Introduction
Class 2

11. Administrative Has everyone gotten the textbook?
Has everyone had the chance to have a careful look at the course syllabus and web page?
Has everyone looked at the case presentation link?
Does everyone understand how grades are calculated in here?

12. Administrative No “Valley Girls” of either sex!
Other linguistic issues
Format of quizzes
Remember to read the articles and study them carefully
Let’s talk about the case presentation exercise
Do you understand it?
Suggestions for topics?

13. Today What is law? What makes something illegal?
Why do people obey the law?
Key points from today’s class

14. I. What is law What is law? How is it different from other norms?
How is it different from other rules?

15. II. What makes something illegal?
What does it mean to describe someone’s behavior as “illegal”?
Are all forms of “illegal” behavior equivalent?
Why
Why not?
Is legality or illegality a clear-cut concept?

16. III. Why do people obey the law?
Are most people “law-abiding”?
Why?
Why not?
Are there laws that are commonly disobeyed?
What is the impact of this on the legal system?

17. IV. Key Points from Today’s Class
How is law different from other norms?
Legality not always a clear cut concept
Concept of who is “law abiding” can be somewhat arbitrary

18. Next Time Examine our constitution
Read the US constitution for next time
Find aspects you didn’t know about
Identify aspects that are surprising to you
Identify aspects you think would surprise most Americans

19. Introduction
Class 3

20. Administrative
Does anyone have questions about the course requirements?
Suggestions for additional or alternative topics for the case presentations?

21. Review What is law? Why do people obey the law?
Are most people law-abiding?

22. Today What is a constitution? Do other countries have constitutions?
Features of the U.S. Constitution

23. I. What is a constitution?
How is it adopted?
How can it be altered?
How does it relate to other laws or rules?

24. II. Do other countries have constitutions?
Can you name other countries that have constitutions?
Are there countries with unwritten constitutions?
How does this work?
How do you enforce an unwritten constitution?
Does it matter that it is unwritten?

25. III. Features of the U.S. Constitution
Aspects of the constitution that you didn’t know about?
Aspects of the constitution that are surprising to you?
Aspects of the constitution that you think would surprise most Americans

26. IV. Key Points from Today’s Class
Not every country has a written constitution and unwritten ones can work quite well
Many Americans would be surprised to read our constitution
By what is in it
By what is not in it

27. Next Time Nature of Law and Legal Systems
Why and how sociologists study the law
Functions of legal systems