week 1 notes Flashcards
What is law? (3)
- governmental rule
- prescribing conduct
- carrying a penalty for violation
distinguish religion, ethics, morality, social clubs, etc.
governmental rule
wrongful conduct as well as what is right
prescribing conduct
money damages/ deprivation of liberty
carrying a penalty for violation
each colony was a “nation” unto itself
- negotitate treaties, currency, militia
- had power/responsibility to see to the health and welfare of its citizens
- police power to regulate an orderly society
colonies of the constitution
created the United States- federal government
- states gave up certain rights
- fed. gov. would defend the country with army and navy
- fed. gov. would regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states
- fed. gov. would negotiate treaties
- fed. gov. would enact uniform laws on bankruptcy
-all classified as enumerated powers
1787 constitutional convention
also known as statues or acts or codes
legislation
- congress consists of the house of reps. and the senate
- reps and senators are elected by citizens
- there is both a federal congress and all but one state has a congress
laws written by congress
legislation passed by congress, both fed and state must be authorized by
constitution
legislation passed by congress but not authorized by the constitution will be declared ___ by the court system
unconstitutional
laws written by a local muicipality are classified as
- local municipalities include counties, cities, boroughs, townships, villages
- L. Municipalities may have council, committee which acts the same as congress
- council can only write laws that are authorized by a state statue ex. zoning, noise, building codes, construction codes, open container laws, parking codes, etc.
ordinances
also known as judicial law, judge made law, precedent, stare decisis and common law.
-court system also know as judiciary
case law
how do judges make laws?
- judges determine facts, what happened?
- judge determines what law is controlling
- is a statue addresses situation; judge must interpret statute and apply statute
- if no statute, judge must locate prior decisions, or no prior decisions must consider local customs in the community that are followed
when a judge makes a decision based on community standards, and this decision is upheld by an appellate court, this becomes new law and is the purest form of common law
case law process
creation and operation of administrative agencies
-exist in both federal and state systems
administration law
what does the enabling act do?
- creates the agency
- id’s the qualifications for the members to be selected
- id’s purpose of the agency and the scope of the power of the agency - empowers the agency
- authorize the agency to pass rules and regulations
- promulgation
- legislative function
- authorizes the agency to enforce the rules
- executive function
- authorizes the agency to conduct hearings
- judicial function
process of passing rules and regulations
promulgation
if an agency performs an unauthorized act or acts in excess of its scope of authority the act is ___
- “can add too but not take away”
ultra vires
classification of crimes ; based on severity
- most serious ; felony
- less serious ; misdemeanor
- least serious ; petty offense also known as summary offense
felonies (6)
- homicide/manslaughter
- aggravated assault
- rape
- robbery
- theft
- drug offenses
unlawful taking of human life
homicide/manslaughter
serious injury usually caused by weapons
aggravated assault
unlawful sexual acts
rape
forcible taking property with the use of a weapon
robbery
unlawful taking of large amount of a persons property
theft
distribution of controlled substance
drug offenses
misdemeanors
- simple assault
- theft
- driving under the influence
- drug offenses
no weapon and injury not as serious as aggravated
simple assault
taking a lesser amount of a persons property
theft
operating a vehicle while impaired
driving under the influence
possession and use
drug offenses
petty offenses/summary offenses
- disorderly conduct
- public intoxication
- simple harassment
- theft of small amount of property
if found guilty of a crime; a conviction may include
- payment of fine to the government
- deprivation of liberty
penalty
deprivation of liberty (4)
- probation
- imprisonment
- death penalty
- deprivation of liberty
- denied gun permit, denied right to vote, etc
- protects the individual who suffers loss as a result of wrongful conduct
- common law is much more relevant than in criminal cases
- criminal penalties to the state in the criminal case and
- civil remedies in the civil case to the harmed party
civil law
classification of civil actions (6)
- tort law
- contract law
- business law
- property law
- probate law
- domestic relations law
-wrongful private conduct by the tortfeasor who causes damage to the victim
tort law
person who causes the damages who commits the wrongful act
tortfeasor
classification of torts based on intent (3)
- intentional torts
- torts of negligence
- strict liability torts
intentional torts (7)
1assault and battery
- false imprisonment
- intention infliction of emotional distress
- defamation
- fraud
- trespass
- nuisance
assault and battery
swing and miss vs. swing and hit (hit is the battery)