1. “Our Legal System - Citizenship and the Law”

2. Part 1

3. Source of Laws
Laws can come from several different sources. In America, law can come from:
Historical Law Codes
“Statutory” Law
“Case” Law
“Common” Law
Constitutional Law

4. Sources of Laws Historical Law Codes
Code of Hammurabi (1772 B.C.E.) – written code of rules from ancient Babylon, each crime was given a specific punishment depending on one’s social position.

5. Sources of Laws Historical Law Codes
Magna Carta (1215 C.E.) – government document that limited the power of the King of England. Some of the rights in this document appear in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.

6. Sources of Laws “Statutory” Law
“Statutory” Law – laws from statutes
Any law that is passed by a legislative body is called a statute, or statutory law.
Government pass these kinds of laws.
Example: The law that says all buildings have to have fire exits is a statute.

7. Sources of Laws “Case” Law
“Case” Law – based on Supreme Court decisions
A source of law based on the decisions and outcomes of cases heard by the Supreme Court
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) was a landmark Supreme Court case that established the case law and precedent that all people will be provided an attorney even if they cannot afford them according to how the Supreme Court interpreted the 6th Amendment.

8. Sources of Laws “Common” Law
“Common” Law – based on tradition
law that is based on precedent (ruling on earlier cases) on customs (tradition)

9. Sources of Laws “Constitional” Law
Constitutional Law - The US Constitution also gives us law.

10. Types of Laws
There are several different types of law that affect Americans directly today that help maintain a peaceful and orderly society
Military Law
Constitutional Law
Criminal Law
Civil Law
Juvenile Law

11. Types of Law “Military” Law
Military Law governs the behavior of the men and women that serve in the US Armed Forces.
This law is supported by the Uniform Code of Military Justice and addresses laws related to desertion, treason, crimes of war, treatment of prisoners, and the military trial process.

12. Types of Law Constitutional Law
Based on the Constitution
Is the basis for much of what becomes “case” law

13. Types of Law Criminal Law
Criminal laws are laws that seek to prevent people from deliberately or recklessly harming a person or someone’s property.
A crime is an act that breaks the law and for which there is a punishment.

14. Our Court System
American courts operate on an adversary system of justice, meaning the courtroom serves as an “arena” in which lawyers for opposing sides try to present their strongest case.

15. “Criminal” Cases
In these types of cases, the government – The Prosecution - always acts as the “plaintiff” (the person bringing the charges) and the person being charged is the “defendant”.
i.e. State of Florida v Joe Smith

16. “Criminal” Law
Two types of Crimes are:
“Felonies”
“Misdemeanors”

17. Felony Crimes
Felonies are the most serious crimes with the most serious consequences
Examples are murder, kidnapping, robbery, etc.

18. Misdemeanor Crimes
Misdemeanors are less serious and have less serious consequences
Examples are vandalism, theft, traffic violations, etc.

19. Process of a Criminal Trial
Once an arrest has been made by law enforcement, the suspect will be informed of his/her rights
This is a result of the 1966 Supreme Court case Miranda v Arizona

20. Process of a Criminal Trial
Suspects then appear before the court in a hearing to “hear” the charges against them and listen to the judge’s decision on the next step.

21. Process of a Criminal Trial
At an arraignment, suspects formally hear the charges and are asked to enter a “plea.”

22. Process of a Criminal Trial
Possible pleas are:
“guilty”,
“not guilty”, or
“nolo contendre”
means “I do not wish to contend “or “no contest”
Defendant does not dispute the charge.

23. Process of a Criminal Trial
During a criminal trial, there are four major steps (each has many parts):
1. Opening Statements
2. Testimony of Witnesses
3. Closing Statements
4. Verdict (Outcome)

24. Step #1: Opening Statements
Both sides (prosecution and defense) will give their opening statement which tells the judge and the jury their side of the

25. Step #2: Testimony of Witnesses
Each side will then call witnesses to give testimony (or answers given under oath) in the case.
These witnesses will also be cross-examined by the other side.

26. Step #3: Closing Statements
Once all of the witnesses have been questioned and crossed, the prosecution and defense will offer their closing statements and ask the jury to rule in favor of their side.

27. Step #4: Verdict
After the closing statements have been given, The jury will be sent to deliberate, or discuss the evidence presented.
Once they reach a unanimous decision they will announce the verdict, or the outcome of the case.

28. Criminal Process found guilty are acquitted - found “not guilty”
Defendants are either
found guilty
are acquitted - found “not guilty”
*the judge can also declare a hung jury (or unable to make unanimous decision) the trial will be ruled a “mistrial”.

29. Criminal Penalties
If the defendant is found guilty, the judge will sentence them (assign their penalty)
Criminal penalties are designed to either:
Provide punishment so the criminal pays for the crime against a victim or society
Remove prisoners so they are not a threat to society
Deter criminals from committing repeated crimes
Rehabilitate criminals so they can reenter society and become productive members

30. Part 2

31. Types of Law Civil Law
Civil laws are disputes between people or groups of people in which no criminal laws have been broken.

32. Types of Law Civil Law
When a civil case goes to court, it is called a lawsuit, which is a legal action in which a person or group sues to collect damages for some harm that is done and seeks damages (an award of money).

33. Types of Law Civil Law
The plaintiff is the individual or group that files the lawsuit and the defendant is the individual or group that is being sued.

34. Types of Law Civil Law
Cases begin when a complaint is filed (a formal statement naming those involved and describing the nature of the lawsuit).
Once filed, a summons, or a document telling the defendant that there is a lawsuit against them and orders the defendant to appear in court, is sent by the court.

35. Types of Law Civil Law
A defendant may respond to the suit in a pleading (complaint and answer together)
Discovery is the name of the process in which lawyers for the plaintiff and defendant check facts and gather evidence for the case.

36. Types of Law Civil Law Rulings
In an equity lawsuit, issues are resolved by a judge based on the grounds of fairness.
Judges often issue an injunction, or a court order commanding a person or group to stop a certain action.
Judges can also issue a summary judgment, or when a judge applies a judgment against one party without a full trial if there is a motion to do so.

37. Types of Law Juvenile Law
Citizens under a certain age are considered juveniles (18 in most states).
These citizens who commit crimes against society are considered to be juvenile delinquents, or criminals not old enough to be processed through the adult court system.
Laws that apply to juveniles are called juvenile laws.

38. Types of Law Juvenile Law
While most crimes committed by juveniles are classified as misdemeanors, some more serious felonies are committed by juveniles as well.

39. Types of Law Juvenile Law
The primary goal of the juvenile court is to rehabilitate the juvenile (or correct their behavior) rather than to punish.
Juvenile courts handle two types of cases:
neglect (neglected or abused by their caregiver)
delinquency (juveniles who commit crimes)

40. Types of Law Juvenile Law
Most police departments have officers who try and divert, or steer, the juvenile away from the court system

41. Types of Law Juvenile Law
The rights of juveniles were established in the 1967 “In re Gault” Supreme Court case
Juveniles have all rights related to due process - right of counsel, right to remain silent, right to confront witnesses against them, etc.

42. Types of Law Juvenile Law
While court trials for juveniles are similar to adults, the major difference is that they do NOT have the right to a jury trial.

43. Types of Law Juvenile Law
Unlike adult trials, the identity of juveniles is kept secret and the criminal records of these juveniles can be erased when they reach adulthood.

44. Legal Protections in the U.S. Constitution
The United States Constitution provides equal protection for people who have been accused of a crime or are being sued in a lawsuit. This means that we must treat every person the same.

45. Legal Protections in the U.S. Constitution
This comes from the principle of rule of law which prevents an abuse of government power and provides for accountability to the law. (No one is above the law)
This is the basis for our legal system.

46. Legal Protections in the U.S. Constitution
All people are guaranteed:
A fair and speedy public trial
The idea that they are considered innocent until proven guilty
The right to ask for an appeal of their case if their rights have been violated!!!

47. Legal Protections in the U.S. Constitution
The Constitution protects certain basic legal rights of Americans:
“writ of habeas corpus” - a court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why they are holding the person.

48. Legal Protections in the U.S. Constitution
“bill of attainder” - are laws that punish a person accused of a crime without a trial or a fair hearing in court.

49. Legal Protections in the U.S. Constitution
“ex post facto law” - are laws that allow a person to be punished for an action that was “not against the law” when it was committed.

50. Legal Protections in the U.S. Constitution
“due process” - the legal procedures established when dealing with the accused.

51. Amendment Protection
Several of the amendments of the Constitution help protect the rights of the “accused”:

52. “Fourth Amendment”
Fourth Amendment: no unreasonable searches and seizures
search warrant: signed by a judge specifying the exact place to be searched and what objects may be seized.

53. “Fifth Amendment” Fifth Amendment: protects the rights of the accused.
Due Process
“double jeopardy”: you can’t be tried for the same crime twice
Right to remain silent
“grand jury”: in a capital case - where a group of citizens determine if there is enough evidence to continue to trial.

54. “Sixth Amendment”
Sixth Amendment: protects the rights of the accused by granting legal counsel and the right to a fair and speedy, public jury trial.

55. “Eighth Amendment”
Eighth Amendment: protects the rights of the accused by forbidding “cruel and unusual punishments” or “excessive bail”
bail: a sum of money paid to court to gain release while waiting for their trial.