Quiz 1 Flashcards
The 1st element of the rule of law…
the capacity of legal rules, standards, or principles to guide people in the conduct of their affairs (people must be able to understand the law and comply with it)
The 2nd element of the rule of law…
efficacy –> the law should actually guide people, at least for the most part
The 3rd element of the rule of law…
stability –> the law should be reasonably stable
The 4th element of the rule of law…
the supremacy of legal authority –> the law should rule officials, including judges, as well as ordinary citizens
The 5th element of the rule of law…
involves instrumentalities of impartial justice –> courts should be available to enforce the law and should employ fair procedures
Amendment 1
Religious and political freedom
Malum in se
A wrong in itself; an act or case involving illegality from the very nature of the transaction, upon principles of natural, moral, and public law
Malum prohibitum
A wrong prohibited; a thing which is wrong because prohibited; an act which is not inherently immoral, but becomes so because its commission is expressly forbidden by positive law; an act involving an illegality resulting from positive law
Rule of Law
Government of laws, not people
Key Elements of Rule of Law
- All persons, including the government, are accountable
under the law; - Fair, publicized, broadly understood and stable laws;
- Fair, robust, and accessible legal process in which rights and responsibilities are evenly enforced;
- Diverse, competent, and independent lawyers and judges
Preserving the Rule of Law:
Elections, Separation of Powers/Checks and Balances and Civil Disobedience
“Common Law” System
- Origins in England
- Precedent based
- Court records and case books
- Very adversarial
- Jury decides facts
- Judges apply law from precedent or from statutes, as interpreted by precedent
- Stare Decisis
“Civil Law” or Code Based System
- Origins in Roman Law
- Code based
- Comprehensive code books
- Less adversarial
- Judges establish facts
- Judges then looks at Code
- Judges more interested in opinions of code drafters and scholars
Key points about Administrative Law
- Executive Agencies (IRS, FBI, FDA) and Independent Agencies (FTC, SEC, EPA);
- Role of enabling legislation;
- Rulemaking: Legislative (Mrs. Fields) or Interpretive (stationary source);
- Rulemaking: Informal Rulemaking and Formal Rulemaking;
- Appeals from agency decisions
Criminal court
- Society is wronged
- People v. defendant
- Defendant is prosecuted
- Prosecutor v defense lawyer
- Right to counsel
- Information or indictment
- Government discloses
- 12 jurors for felony
- Unanimous verdict required
- Beyond a reasonable doubt
- Guilty or not guilty
- Sentence: Jail, fine or service