Civics

1
Civics Economics Top 100

• What every student should know to pass the Civics
  Economics EOC
• Goal 6

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Goal 6 The learner will explain why laws are
needed and how they are enacted, implemented, and
enforced at the national, state, and local levels.
3
Foundations of Law

• Code of Hammurabi - the earliest legal code known
  in its entirety
• Ten Commandments - ten injunctions given to
  Moses, serving as the basis of Mosaic Law
• Justinian Codes - the collections of laws and
  legal interpretations developed under the
  sponsorship of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I

4
Types of Laws

• Common law a body of law based on judges
  decisions
• Criminal law the group of laws that tell which
  acts are crimes, how accused persons should be
  tried in court, and how crimes should be punished
• Civil law the group of laws that help settle
  disagreements between people

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Types of Laws

• Constitutional law - a body of statutory and case
  law based on, concerns, or interprets a
  constitution
• Administrative law - the body of rules,
  regulations, orders, and decisions created by
  administrative agencies of government 
• Statutory law - the body of laws created by
  legislative statutes
• International law - the body of rules that
  nations generally recognize as binding in their
  conduct toward one another.

6
Creation of Laws

• The early leaders of our nation knew that it was
  important to establish a set of laws for the
  nation.
• Law must be fair, reasonable, and understandable.

7
Lobbying Procedures

• Interest groups work to convince senators and
  representatives to support bills that help their
  members and to oppose bill that hurt them. This
  is done by hiring lobbyists, people who represent
  interest groups.

8
Mass Media

• Newspapers, motion pictures, radio, television,
  and magazines, all of which have the technical
  capacity to deliver information to millions of
  people.

9
Consequences of Breaking the Law

• A major purpose of laws is to keep the peace and
  prevent violent acts.
• Laws set punishments that are meant to discourage
  potential criminals from such acts as murder,
  assault, or robbery.

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Types of Punishments

• Probation
• Juvenile detention
• Community service
• House arrest
• Prison
• Boot camp

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Criminal Trial Process

1. Arrest Police arrest and book suspect
2. Preliminary Hearing Suspect appears before a
   judge, bail is set
3. Indictment Grand jury hears evidence and
   formally charges the suspect with a crime
4. Arraignment Defendant pleads not guilty, trial
   date is set. OR Defendant pleads guilty and
   accepts a plea bargain.
5. Trial Prosecution and defense present cases to
   jury. Jury reaches verdict.
6. Acquittal Defendant found not guilty and goes
   free. OR Sentencing Defendant found guilty,
   judge sentences defendant.

12
Civil Trial

1. Plaintiffs attorney files a complaint
2. Court sends a summons to defendant
3. Defendants attorney files a written answer
4. Attorneys for both sides exchange pleadings
   documents
5. Attorneys for plaintiff and defendant argue case
   in court
6. Court gives a verdict

13
Law Enforcement Agencies

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• State Bureau of Investigation (SBI)
• Municipal or county law enforcement

14
Independent Agencies

• There are three types of independent agencies
• Executive Agencies are under the direct control
  of the President. (NASA, EPA)
• Regulatory Commissions make and carry out rules
  for certain business or economic activities.
  (FCC, CPSC)
• Government Corporations are like private
  businesses, but provide public services. (US
  Postal Service)

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Regulatory Commissions

• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) makes
  rules for radio and television stations.
• The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
  sets safety standards for products.

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Informed Citizenry

• Ignorance of the law is no excuse.