1. Street Law
Chapter 1
What is Law

2. Key Terms Jurisprudence Criminal Laws Felonies Misdemeanors Civil Laws
Civil Action
Defendant
Plaintiff
Judicial Review
Federalism
Prosecutor
Beyond a reasonable doubt
Preponderance of evidence
Limited Government
Separation of Powers
Statutes
Checks and Balances
Veto
Unconstitutional
Bill of Rights

3. What is Law? Jurisprudence - The study of law and legal philosophy
Every society has had them
Written and unwritten
“Rule of law”
Known in advance
Applies to everyone equally – No one is above the law.

4. Law and Values Seven Goals of the Legal system
Protecting basic human rights
Promoting fairness
Helping resolve conflicts
Promoting order and stability
Promoting desirable social and economic behavior
Representing the will of the majority
Protecting the rights of minorities

5. Law and Values Creating Laws to protect those values
Resolve conflicts caused between groups
Laws based on:
Moral values
Economic Values
Political Values
Social Values

6. Law and Values Moral values Right and wrong (Murder) Economic values
Accumulation, preservation, use, and distribution of wealth (Shoplifting)
Political values
Relationship between government and citizens (Voting)
Social values
Issues important to society (Education)

7. Law and Values Many laws combine these values. For example:
Theft deals with moral issue of stealing
Economic issue of protecting property
Political issue of how government punishes violators of criminal statutes
Social issue of respecting others property

8. Human Rights All the rights you have just for being human.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
Basic Rights
Adopted by almost all countries
1948
Eleanor Roosevelt leads
Liberty, education, political and religious freedom, and economic well-being

9. Human Rights Enforcement by the UN through treaties:
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (freedom of speech, religion, press, to participate in gov’t)
The International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (adequate education, food, housing, health care, also provides right to job, safe working conditions, adequate salary, to own property.)

10. Balancing Rights with Responsibilities
U.S. concern with Rights
“Radical Individualism”
Rights over responsibility
Your Right not to vote vs. your responsibility to vote
Free Speech vs. Hateful Speech

11. Kinds of Laws Criminal Laws Felonies and Misdemeanors
Regulate public conduct, duties owed
Felonies and Misdemeanors
Over 1 year/ 1year or less in jail
Civil Laws and Civil action
Relations between individuals
Lawsuit brought

12. Kinds of Laws Criminal case Civil case Prosecutor- District Attorney
Government against the defendant
Felonies – more than 1yr in prison
Misdemeanors – 1yr or less
Civil case
Plaintiff (harmed) against a defendant
Prosecutor- District Attorney
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
Preponderance of Evidence

13. Our Constitutional Framework
U.S. Constitution – the highest law
Limited Powers
Only powers listed
Separation of Powers
3 Branches (executive, legislative, & judicial
Statutes - Laws
Checks and balances
Veto- President not signing a Bill
Judicial review- Constitutionality

14. Our Constitutional Framework
Federalism – division of powers
Federal Powers
State Powers
Local Powers
Bill of Rights
First 10 Amendments of the Constitution
Basic Rights

15. U.S. Constitution Changed in 2 ways 2/3 vote of both houses or
2/3 of the states
Must be ratified/approved by 3/4 of the states
27 Amendments