1. History of Our Laws

2. Where do our laws come from?
Hammurabi’s Code
English Common Law
Religion
Law of Draco
Justinian’s Code
Napoleonic Code
Magna Carta

3. Hammurabi’s Code Babylonia 1760 B.C Consisted of harsh penalties
People presumed innocent
The First written set of laws
“Eye for an Eye”
What does that mean to you?
Do you agree with this?

4. English Common Law England
Based on court decisions rather than on a legal code
Uses precedent (stare decisis)
Legal opinions based on previous rulings
Settlers brought these laws over when they came to North America during the 1600s and 1700s

5. Religion/The Bible Hebrew tradition, Around 1200 B.C. Ten Commandments
Rules that everyone is supposed to follow in order to live a moral life
Moral rules
What are some morals we get from the Bible/10 Commandments?
Separation of church and state?

6. Draco’s Law Athens, Greece 620 BC
Very chaotic society, martial law was needed
Codified law in Athens
Developed the idea of manslaughter/intent
Marked with extreme cruelty as punishments
Punishment of deaths for most offenses

7. Justinian’s Code Byzantine Empire 533 AD
Took all the laws of the Roman Empire and compiled them into a body of rules
Simplified Roman Law
A set punishment for each crime
Influenced Napoleonic Code

8. Napoleonic Code France 1800s Updated version of Justinian’s Code
Better version, we used this as our example
No mitigating circumstances
Louisiana’s laws are still based on the Napoleonic Code
Used in Louisiana; why?

9. Magna Carta
England 1215 AD
Nobles forced King John to sign this document
Protected the nobles’ privileges and authority
Granted rights to landholders
Where have we heard these before?
Equal treatment under the law
No one would be above the law
Right to a jury trial
Due Process