1. Law and Your Rights 7.1

2. “Equal Justice Under Law”  Carved over entrance of Supreme Court Building All US citizens equal and guaranteed equal protection by law

3. Laws  Based on majority rule Formed when change is needed Can change with the times  People must know laws Passed for greater good

4. Kinds of Law  Four kinds Statutory Common Administrative Constitutional  Based on principals of US Constitution Law of the land

5. Statutory Law  Passed by lawmaking bodies (Congress)  State and local govt

6. Common Law  Accepted as proper behavior Common sense Ex. car accident Precedent—earlier decision Becomes Common Law  Most common law passed as statutory law By nation’s lawmaking bodies

7. Administrative Law  Laws that affect our daily lives are  Made by government agencies  Consumer Product Safety Commission Product recalls

8. Constitutional Law  Constitution always prevails  Supreme Court decisions interpret the Constitution

9. Role of Court  Hear dispute  Apply the law  Reach decision  Enforce law fairly

10. Role of Court  FBI agent finds a spy? Can the government throw the spy in prison for treason?  Innocent until proven guilty  Trial must be in court Authority to administer justice Justice for all

11. Rights  Fair and public trial  Bail: may released on promise to return for trial Pay a sum to the court Serious crimes may be denied bail  Lawyer Protect rights of accused

12. Indictment  Arrest on suspicion of the crime doesn’t mean that the person will go to trial  Must be enough evidence Determined by grand jury 12-23 citizens Examines the evidence Questions witnesses Investigates facts Majority decides that evidence is strong enough, person is indicted, will go to trial. Indictment: Formal accusation of crime

13. Right to a Jury Trial  Judged on evidence  6 th Amendment  a.k.a. Petit Jury 6-12 jurors Selected randomly: jury duty  Verdict: decision Unanimous vote  Hung jury: can’t reach unanimous decision New trial held

14. Innocent Until Proven Guilty  Burden of proof on Prosecution  “beyond a reasonable doubt”  I plead the 5 th Don’t have to testify against self Testimony: evidence given in court Cross-examination Right to call witnesses

15. Right to Appeal  Courts can make mistakes  Ensuring a fair decision, US courts allows appeals