1. Ethics and the Law
Chapter 1

2. A Debate about Ethics Characters: Mrs. Martinez………….Ms. Walton
Thai ………………………Jacoy
Jamila ……………………Ironisha
Felicia
Peggy……………………..Kerisha
Daniel ……………………Jacoy
Page 5

3. Defining Ethics Section 1.1
Learning how to apply ethical principles will help you make ethical decisions.

4. What You Will Learn How ethical decisions are made
When to apply the greatest good principle
When to apply the golden rule principle
How to explain the nature of ethical character traits

5. What You Will Learn When law relates to ethics
How to explain the importance of law
How ethics and the law might sometime conflict

6. Legal Terms
Morality
Ethics
Honesty
Justice
Compassion
Integrity
Law

7. How Ethical Decisions are Made
Determining the difference between right and wrong can be difficult
Individuals use different methods to chose the right thing to do in any given situation
Morality involves the values that govern a society’s attitude toward right and wrong
Ethics, in contrast, are the means for determining what a society’s values ought to be.

8. How Ethical Decisions are Made
Throughout your life, you will face many ethical problems
Adopting a consistent ethical standard can help you with big or small moral problems

9. Feelings and Opinions
Some people base their ethical standards on whether or not the act “feels” right

10. The Greatest Good
Some people feel that an action that creates the greatest good for the greatest number of people is a sound basis for making ethical decisions.

11. The Golden Rule
Others base their ethical standards on the Golden Rule, which states:
“Do unto others as you would have
them do unto you.”

12. Ethical Character Traits
Honesty is being open and truthful with other people.
Justice is treating other people fairly and equally.
Compassion is being sympathetic to the difficulties of others.
Integrity is doing what is right regardless of personal consequences.

13. Describe the characteristics of justice.
Answer: Treating people fairly and equally.

14. The Relationship Between Ethics and Law
If everyone made the same ethical decisions with the same results, there would be no need for law. In the real world, however, some people engage in conduct that most people agree is wrong.

15. Why Law is Necessary
Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the government of a society to maintain stability and justice.
Law defines the legal rights and duties of the people and provides the means of enforcing these rights and duties.

16. Ethics and Legal Conflicts
Because law is made by people, it is imperfect.
Legislators and judges bring their own personal opinions on ethics to the lawmaking process.
As a result, ethics and law will sometimes conflict.

17. Define Law
Law is the rules of conduct established by the government of a society to maintain stability and justice.

18. Section 1.1 Assessment Reviewing what you learned.
#1, 4, 5, 6, 7
Critical Thinking Activity

19. Sources of Law
Section 1.2
Learning how the law is made will help you make decisions regarding your legal responsibilities.

20. What You Will Learn
How to recognize the various parts of the US Constitution.
How to explain the components of common law
How to explain the purposes of statutory law
How to identify the various ways that courts make law
How the government makes administrative regulations

21. Legal Terms Constitution Common law Precedent Statutes Legislature
Unconstitutional
Administrative law

22. The Five Main Sources of US Law
Constitutional Law
Common Law
Statutory Law
Court Decisions
Administrative Regulations
In general. Law in the United States comes from these five sources.

23. Constitutional Law
Constitution spells out the principles by which the government operates.
Our country’s fundamental law is the US Constitution.
Set forth the rights of citizens
Define limits the federal/state government may pass laws
Describes the functions of the branches of government
There are 7 articles and 27 amendments

24. Common Law Laws were not written, judges made decisions based on
Tradition
Decisions of other judges
Made every effort to share the same law “in common”
This practice led to the doctrine of precedent
A judge is required to follow earlier decisions.
In English history, judges travelled the countryside deciding
The legal system of all states except Louisiana is rooted in English common law.
In English history, judges or magistrates travelled the countryside deciding cases.

25. Statutory Law
Statutes are laws specifically passed by a governing body that has been created for the purpose of making laws.
Legislature – body of lawmakers that has the job of creating statutory law.
The Supreme Court may declare any statute the goes against the Constitution unconstitutional or invalid.
Laws passed by the US Congress, state legislatures. Local city councils or town meeting are all called statutory laws.
The US Constitution is the Supreme law of the land consequently, Congress may not pass laws that conflict with the US Constitution.

26. Court Decisions Court made laws are called
Case law
Court decisions
Judge-made law
Decisions made by the highest court of any state becomes the law of that state.
Judicial decisions involves interpreting statutes.
When a statute is confusing, incomplete or unclear it is the court’s job to figure out what the statute means.
Courts also decide whether the laws are consistent with the constitution.

27. Administrative Regulations
Legislature often give power to regulate a particular king of activity to an administrative agency
Examples
FCC – Federal Communication
FAA – Federal Aeronautics Administration
These agencies make their own rules, enforce, investigate, and judge.
Administrative law consist of those rules and procedures established by regulatory agencies
Federal, state and local legislatures sometimes find it desirable to regulate certain kinds of activities.
although regulatory agencies are constitutional. There are checks and balances on their power. The legislature that created them has the power to change it powers or eliminate the agency altogether.
Any final decision by an agency can be reviewed by the courts.

28. Section 1.2 Assessment Reviewing What You Learned
Critically Thinking Activity

29. Chapter Summary Ethical decisions can be made by relying on:
Opinions and feelings
Applying the greatest good principle, and
Following the golden rule.
Four ethical character traits are
Honesty
Justice
Compassion, and
Integrity
A decision made by applying the greatest good principle leads to an action that will create the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Although using this principle may make many people happy, applying it does not always bring about ethical actions.
The golden rule is traditionally associated with Christianity. Applying the golden rule leads to an ethical decision much of the time because it requires a person to put the interest of others ahead of personal interests.
Honesty is the ability to be open and truthful in dealing with others
A person is said to be just if he treats people fairly and equally
A person displays compassion when he is sympathetic to the difficulties of others
Integrity refers to a person’s refusal to compromise his or her values, regardless of consequences.

30. Chapter Summary
Ethics tell us what we should do, it may be subjective. People do not always do what they should do, so laws are defined providing an objective standard of behavior
Law is important because society needs a system of rules to maintain stability and peace.
Ethics and the law can conflict in a variety of circumstances. Professional ethics are not always consistent with the rule of law.

31. Chapter Summary
A country’s constitution spells out the principles by which the government operates.
Common law originates in England. The doctrine of precedent is used to analogize or distinguish a case at hand from a previous case.
Statutory law consist of rules of conduct established by the government of a society to maintain stability.
The Constitution consist of 7 articles and 27 amendments enumerates the fundamental rights of citizens. It also defines the limits within the federal government may pass laws

32. Chapter Summary
Courts make laws through the common law tradition, by interpreting statutes, and by deciding issues of constitutionality.
Decisions made by the highest court of any state becomes the law of that state.
Legislatures from regulatory agencies, which have wide-ranging powers to create, enforce, and adjudicate rules and procedures
The body that formed the agency has the power to terminate that agency.