ENFORCING THE RULES OF A NATION UNIT 1 – PART 2E

DISCUSSION QUESTION:  How might enforcing rules and regulations for a school be similar to enforcing rules and laws for a nation?

EXECUTIVE BRANCH  U.S. Constitution assigns power to execute and enforce laws to the executive branch. (i.e., the president, vice president, and Cabinet)  It can create regulations to do the following:  Implement laws passed by the legislative branch.  Oversee administrative agencies that promote compliance with the law.  Bring court cases against individuals and companies that have violated the law.

THE EXECUTION & ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS TAKES MANY FORMS:  Examples:  Occupational Safety and Health Administration is part of the U.S. Department of Labor, and is responsible for passing and enforcing workplace safety regulations.  The Internal Revenue Service and state departments of revenue are responsible for ensuring that people pay taxes.

VARIOUS EXECUTIVE AGENCIES OR GROUPS Responding to an attempted terrorist attack in the U.S.  U.S. Department of Homeland Security  U.S. Department of Justice  Federal Bureau of Investigation  State and local emergency responders

Investigating a report of child abuse.  State Department of Social Services Licensing an offshore wind farm for alternative energy.  U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Regulation and Enforcement.  State energy departments

Enforcing immigration laws.  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is a division of the Department of Homeland Security Investigating financial fraud.  Federal Bureau of Investigation  Securities and Exchange Commission

Maintaining order during a public protest in front of City Hall  Local law enforcement.

AGREE / DISAGREE  The police are the public and the public are the police. – Sir Robert Peel  Police can fight crime more effectively if they spend less time on community and social work and more time responding to crime.  Police can do their jobs more effectively if they spend more time getting to know people in the community and responding to social needs.

THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POLICE HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME  In 1829 the Peelian Principles, for law enforcement officers, were created by Sir Robert Peel in London, England.  The Peelian Principles are still used in law enforcement agencies today.  Formal policing as we know it today is less than two centuries old.

PEELIAN PRINCIPLES  How do you think these principles apply today?

COMPARE THE MODELS FOR POLICING  Which approach is most effective?  Can the different models co-exist?  What are some possible advantages of and drawbacks to each model?

CHALLENGES INVOLVED IN ENFORCING A LAW  What do you think are some of the challenges of enforcing the law?  Some laws are not popular  Lack of resources  Poor relationships with the community  People believe laws are not enforced fairly or equally  Fear of retaliation  Mistrust of the police

POLICE MUST BALANCE  Police officers must enforce the law while respecting rights protected by the Constitution, such as the right to be free from unreasonable searches.  How do you think maintaining this balance impacts law enforcement?  Respecting individual rights could help law enforcement build trust with the community, limit abuse of power, maintain the rule of law, and protect fundamental rights.  On the other hand, it can also undermine law enforcement by limiting officers’ ability to conduct surveillance on suspects, make arrests, conduct undercover operations, etc.  Do you think the police in this community do a good job of meeting these challenges?

UNIT 1 – PART 2F: ENFORCING SCHOOL RULES HANDOUT 19 – PART 2 QUESTIONS  What do these excerpts from two reports tell you about how rules have been enforced in schools?  How would you compare the different approaches to enforcing school rules described in these excerpts?