Bus Law1

Define and describe the functions of Law. Page 4 of textbook

There are 8 functions of law

1. Keeping the peace.

-Laws that make undesirable activities crimes

2. Shaping moral standards.

-Like discouraging drug and alcohol use.

3. Promoting Social Justice.

-Laws prohibiting discrimination in the work place.

4. Maintaining the status quo.

-Laws that may prevent the overthrow of government.

5. Facilitating an orderly change.

-Laws are enacted only after considerable study, debate and public input.

6. Facilitating planning.

-Well designed commercial laws allow businesses to plan their activities, allocate productive resources, and asses the risks they take.

7. Providing a basis of compromise.

-Laws allow for the settlement of cases prior to trial, 90% of cases are settled this way.

8. Maximizing individual freedom.

-The rights of the freedom of speech, religion, and association are granted by the first amendment.

Explain the U.S. Legal System

-In the United States, laws are made at the federal and state levels. Laws adopted by legislative bodies - Congress and state legislatures - are called "statutes."

The federal and state courts enforce statutes. They also create law.

-The US Legal System is a complex organization of Federal and State governmental divisions.  In order to understand the US Legal System, you should first know which laws, rules or regulations control.  In other words, which laws have priority or controlling effect.

The U.S. Constitution is the highest law of the land. Federal Laws enacted by the US Congress come next.  This does not mean that the Federal Congress can adopt laws that control States in every situation.  It can’t unless the law can be applied to the States under the US Constitution and Court decisions.

Each State has a legislature that adopts State Laws called “statutes”.  Those statutes are sometimes complied into what is referred to ad a Code.  This is nothing more than a codification of all the applicable...