1. What is the Law ? Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.

2. Copyright and Terms of Service Copyright © Texas Education Agency. The materials found on this website are copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property of the Texas Education Agency and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the Texas Education Agency, except under the following conditions: 1)Texas public school districts, charter schools, and Education Service Centers may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for the districts’ and schools’ educational use without obtaining permission from the Texas Education Agency; 2) Residents of the state of Texas may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for individual personal use only without obtaining written permission of the Texas Education Agency; 3) Any portion reproduced must be reproduced in its entirety and remain unedited, unaltered and unchanged in any way; 4) No monetary charge can be made for the reproduced materials or any document containing them; however, a reasonable charge to cover only the cost of reproduction and distribution may be charged. Private entities or persons located in Texas that are not Texas public school districts or Texas charter schools or any entity, whether public or private, educational or non-educational, located outside the state of Texas MUST obtain written approval from the Texas Education Agency and will be required to enter into a license agreement that may involve the payment of a licensing fee or a royalty fee. Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. 2

3. Enforceable rules of conduct in a society Reflects the culture and circumstances that create them Grouped into an organized form (code) Many similarities between codes of different civilizations The Law Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. 3

4. Stages 1 & 2 in the Growth of Law Individuals take revenge for wrongs done to them. Individuals take revenge for wrongs done to them. Leader has power to force revenge- minded individuals to accept an award of goods or money instead Leader has power to force revenge- minded individuals to accept an award of goods or money instead Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. 4

5. The leader gives power to enforce options for the revenge- minded individuals to a system of courts. The leader or central authority acts to prevent and punish wrongs that provide individuals to seek revenge. Stages 3 & 4 in the Growth of Law Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. 5

6. Laws Reflect the wisdom or lack of wisdom by their creators Reflect the wisdom or lack of wisdom by their creators A legal system that is too controlling and too rigid to change with the wants and needs of the people will be overthrown A legal system that is too controlling and too rigid to change with the wants and needs of the people will be overthrown Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. 6

7. Types of Law Common Law - based on the current standards or customs of the people Common Law - based on the current standards or customs of the people Positive Law - dictated from a sovereign or other central authority to prevent disputes and wrongs from occurring Positive Law - dictated from a sovereign or other central authority to prevent disputes and wrongs from occurring Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. 7

8. History of the U.S. Legal System English Common Law and Roman Civil Law have influenced the world’s legal systems. English Common Law and Roman Civil Law have influenced the world’s legal systems. Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. 8

9. Well written comprehensive sets of statutes in code form Laws only changed by the central government Louisiana has a civil law system Roman Civil Law Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. 9

10. English Common Law King’s Bench King’s Bench – Judges appointed by the king from a group of trusted nobles – Judges ordered wrongdoers pay with money or goods to the parties they injured Jurisdiction - power to decide a case Jurisdiction - power to decide a case Jury - citizens from each region to interpret the region’s customs for the court Jury - citizens from each region to interpret the region’s customs for the court Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. 10

11. Achieves uniformity while maintaining the ability to adapt to changes in society Served as a model for legal systems worldwide, including 49 states in the United States English Common Law Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. 11

12. Other Legal Concepts Precedent - courts use prior cases as a guide for deciding similar new cases Precedent - courts use prior cases as a guide for deciding similar new cases Equity - fairness Equity - fairness Legal recourse - avenues of legal action available to the citizen Legal recourse - avenues of legal action available to the citizen Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. 12

13. Assignments Legal Storyline: Draw a mural that represents the chain of events in a story. The mural must highlight the legal terminology involved in the case. There should be at least one picture frame for every legal concept defined. Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved. 13 Independent Practice Assignment Activity