1

AmericanLaw:Origins,Development,Types,Examples,andProcedures

OverviewThroughdiscussion,notetaking,andagameofJeopardy,studentswilllearnabouttheoriginsoflaw,tracethedevelopmentoflawinAmerica,anddifferentiatebetweenthedifferenttypesoflaws.Studentswillalsolearnthedifferentstepsincivilandcriminaljudicialproceedings.Toculminatetheirunderstandingofthejudicialprocess,studentswillcreatepostersnotingthedifferentstepsaparticularcriminalorcivilcasewouldgothroughinthejudicialsystem.Grade10NCEssentialStandardsforAmericanHistory:TheFoundingPrinciples,Civics&Economics• FP.C&G.1.4-AnalyzetheprinciplesandidealsunderlyingAmericandemocracyintermsofhowthey

promotefreedom(i.e.separationofpowers,ruleoflaw,limitedgovernment,democracy,consentofthegoverned/individualrights–life,liberty,pursuitofhappiness,self-government,representativedemocracy,equalopportunity,equalprotectionunderthelaw,diversity,patriotism,etc.

• FP.C&G.1.5-EvaluatethefundamentalprinciplesofAmericanpoliticsintermsoftheextenttowhichtheyhavebeenusedeffectivelytomaintainconstitutionaldemocracyintheUnitedStates(e.g.,ruleoflaw,limitedgovernment,democracy,consentofthegoverned,etc.

• FP.C&G.2.1-Analyzethestructuresofnational,stateandlocalgovernmentsintermsofwaystheyareorganizedtomaintainorder,security,welfareofthepublicandtheprotectionofcitizens(e.g.,federalism,thethreebranches,courtsystem,jurisdictions,judicialprocess,agencies,etc.)

• FP.C&G.3.1-Analyzehowtheruleoflawestablisheslimitsonboththegovernedandthosewhogovernwhileholdingtruetotheidealofequalprotectionunderthelaw(e.g.,theFourteenthAmendments,AmericanswithDisabilitiesAct,equalopportunitylegislation.)

• FP.C&G.3.3-Analyzelawsandpoliciesintermsoftheirintendedpurposes,whohasauthoritytocreatethemandhowtheyareenforced(e.g.,laws,policies,publicpolicy,regulatory,symbolic,procedural,etc.)

• FP.C&G.3.4-Explainhowindividualrightsareprotectedbyvarietiesoflaw(e.g.,BillofRights,SupremeCourtDecisions,constitutionallaw,criminallaw,civillaw,Tort,Administrativelaw,StatutorylawandInternationallaw,etc.

• FP.C&G.3.7-Summarizetheimportanceoftherighttodueprocessoflawforindividualsaccusedofcrimes(e.g.,habeascorpus,presumptionofinnocence,impartialtribunal,trialbyjury,righttocounsel,rightagainstself-incrimination,protectionagainstdoublejeopardy,rightofappeal).

• FP.C&G.3.8-EvaluatetherightsofindividualsintermsofhowwellthoserightshavebeenupheldbydemocraticgovernmentintheUnitedStates.

EssentialQuestions• WhataretheoriginsoflawinAmericansociety?• WhatarethedifferenttypesoflawsinAmericansociety?• Whatisthejudicialprocessforcivilandcriminalcases?Materials• TenCommandmentsWarm-UpImage,exampleattached• LawOriginsandTypesofLawGuidedNotes,attached• “AmericanLawJeopardy”PowerPoint,availableinCarolinaK-12’sDatabaseofK-12Resources

2

o Someschooldistrict’sbrowsersettingswillnotallowPPTfilestoopen;ifyouareunabletoaccessthisfile,e-mailCarolinaK12@unc.eduforanelectroniccopy.

• ReviewofLaw,attached• CivilandCriminalProcedureFlowChart,attached• Markers,PosterBoard(orchartpaper)• Sampletestquestionsandkey,attachedDuration• Teachersshouldallota45-60-minuteclassperiodforDayOneofthislesson(timewillvarybasedonhow

longisgiventoplaytheJeopardygame;teacherswithlimitedtimecanoptionallyeliminateJeopardy,orusethegameduringaclassperiodclosertoEOCsasareviewactivity.)

• Theseconddaywilltakeapproximately30-40minutesProcedureDayOne(45-60minutes)

TheOriginsofLaw1. StartclassbyprojectinganimageoftheTenCommandments(exampleattached.)Askstudentsto

commentuponwhattheyseeandtosharewhattheyalreadyknowabouttheTenCommandments.Oncestudentshavesharedsomethoughts,explainthattheTenCommandments,regardlessofreligion,weresoinfluentialthroughouthistorythatmanyofthesameprinciplesarefoundintheverylawswehavetoday.Askstudentsiftheycanciteanyanotherancientlawsourcesanddiscuss:• Whydoweneedlaws?Whatpurposesdotheyserve?• We’vementioneddifferenttypesofcrimesaswediscussedtheTenCommandments(i.e.kill,steal,

etc.)Shouldlawstreatdifferentcrimesinalternativeways?(Meaning,shouldthelawandpunishmentformurderbedifferentthanthelawandpunishmentfortheft?)Explain.

2. Explaintostudentsthattherearemanydifferenttypesoflawandthattheywilltracetheiroriginsanddifferencestodayinclass.Takestudentsthroughtheattachedguidednotes.Thenoteswillcoverdifferentlaworiginsandthevarioustypesoflaw.Studentsshouldfillouttheirnotes,withtheteacherbringingupintriguingdiscussionpointswheneverpossible.Thesenotesshouldtakeapproximately20-25minutestocomplete.ExplaintostudentsthattheywillbecompetinginagameofJeopardynext,whichmeansthatthesenoteswillbeveryvaluabletotheminthenearfuture.

ThisisJeopardy!

3. Optional:Inordertofurtherfamiliarizestudentstheoriginsoflawandvarioustypesoflaw,playagameofJeopardywiththeclassusingthe“LawOriginsandTypesofLawJeopardyPowerPoint,”availableinCarolinaK-12’sDatabaseofK-12Resources,orbye-mailingarequesttoCarolinaK12@unc.edu(TheJeopardygamecanalsobeusedduringalaterclassasanEOCreviewactivity.)Toleadthegame:• Dividetheclassintothreetosixgroupsofequalsize.(Youmightwanttoallowstudentstocreateteam

names.)• GoovertheinstructionsforhowtoplayusingSlides2&3ofthePowerPoint.Teachersshouldalso

reviewtheirclassexpectationsforrespectfulgroupworkandremindstudentstoberespectfuloftheirownteammates,aswellasotherteams.

• Letstudentsknowwhetherornottheycanusetheirnoteswhileplaying.Teachersmayalsowanttoofferaprizeforthegroupwiththemostpoints,orforallstudentsexhibitingactiveandsuccessfulparticipation.

3

ReviewofLaw4. Optional:AfterJeopardy,instructstudentstoreturntotheirseatsandcompletetheattached“Reviewof

Law”handout.Youmaycollectthistoassessstudentknowledgeretentionwhentheclassperiodisover.Alternatively,thissheetcanbeassignedforhomeworkandcollectedthefollowingclassperiod.

DayTwo(30-40minutes)

StepsintheJudicialProcess:CriminalandCivilProcedure5. Reviewtheoriginsandtypesoflawwithstudents.(Teachersmaywanttohavestudentssharetheir

answerstothe“ReviewofLaw”handoutinpartnersorsmallgroups,oraskdiscussionquestionsoftheclassthatrequirethemtorecallkeypointsfromthepreviouslesson.)Tellstudentsthatintoday’sactivities,theywillbelearningwhathappensafteralawisbrokenastheyfocusonthestepsofthejudicialprocess.

6. Beginbypresentingaconflictscenariotoencouragediscussion.Forexample,selecttwostudentsinthe

classandexplainthatStudentAthrewpoisononStudentB’slawn.Itkilledallofhisgrass.Discuss:• WhatareStudentB’soptionsforjustice?(Letstudentsdiscusspossibleresponsesandofferadditional

questionstofurthertheirthinkingbasedontheirresponses.Forexample,ifastudentrespondsthatafistfightwouldbeinorder,discusshowthiscouldpossiblyresultinhavingtheoriginalvictim(StudentB)gotojailforassault.Whatmightabetteroptionbe?)

• HowwouldStudentBgoaboutfilingalawsuitagainstStudentA?• Whatisthepurposeofthejusticesystem?• Whatdoyoualreadyknowaboutthejudicialprocess?Istheprocessalwaysthesame,regardlessof

thelawbroken?Explain.

7. Tellstudentsthattheywillbeexploringthejudicialprocessforbothcriminalandcivilcases.Passouttheattached“CivilandCriminalProcedureFlowcharts.”Completethesheetwithstudents,describingthedifferentstepsinthejudicialprocess.Trytokeepexplanationsrelativelysimpleasyougothroughthesheet.Ifnecessary,useaspecificexampleforeachprocessandtakestudentsthroughtheprocessusingthatexample.• CivilLawexample:TellstudentsNeighborAallowshisdogtoconstantlyripupNeighborB’sflowers.

o Dispute–Thedogrippinguptheflowers(theproblemitself)o ComplaintFiled–NeighborBfilesalawsuit(orcomplaint)againstNeighborAo NeighborAisthedefendant,andcanchooseanumberofoptions.IfAignoresthecase,a

judgewillruleonthecasewithoutanyinputfromA.IfAfilesforamotiontodismiss,thejudgewilllookoverthecasetodeterminewhethertothrowitoutornot.IfAfilesananswer,wemovetothenextstep

o IfAandBhireattorneys,theythengointoDiscovery.Theywillaskforevidenceandinformationfromoneanother,andarerequiredtosharethisinformationwithoneanother.Adepositionisasworntestimonythatcanhaveperjuryfiledifuntruthful.Interrogatoriesarequestionsthatattorneysaskoneanotherinwrittenformtofindoutmoreinformation.

o Aftertheattorneysgothroughthisprocess,theycansubmittheirevidencetothejudgeandaskforasummaryjudgment.Ifbothagreetothefacts,asummaryjudgmentcanbeobtained.Atthisstep,theycanalsogotoarbitration.Arbitrationislikeatrialformat,withabindingoutcomeattheend.

o Ifnosettlementscanbemade,orarbitrationisnotused,itgoestotrial.Theyselectajury,makeopeningstatements,respond,rebut,andclosetheirarguments.Thereisalowerstandardofproofincivilcases.Ifajurytrial,onlyneedamajority(unlikeunanimousrequirementsincriminalcases).

4

o Ifapartydoesnotliketheoutcome,theycanappealtoahighercourt,whocandecidetotakethecaseortonottakeit.Nonewevidencecanbeofferedinanappeal,soitisusuallyonlytakenbyappealinveryseriouscasesorwhenthereisanerrorintheprocessofalowercourt.

o Notetostudentshowlongtheseprocessestake,pointingoutthatthelegalsystemusuallybillsbythehour.Isitmoreeffectiveorlesseffectivetotakeasmallcaselikethisthroughallofthesteps,ortojustsettlethecaseoutofcourt?

• Criminallawexample:Chooseanexamplelikemurder.Explainhowmoreseriousoffensesaremorelikelytogothroughtheentireprocess.Makesuretodiscusswithstudentswhythemajorityofcasesaresettledoutofcourt(legalcosts,pleabargaining,etc.)

o Thecrimeofmurderwascommitted.o Thevictim’sfamilyhastobringcharges.Publicsafetyofficialsalsobringcharges.Inthecaseof

amurder,thetypeofcrimemustbedetermined.(Theywillchoosebetweenmanslaughter,murderinthefirstdegree,second,etc.)Afterchargesarebrought,theymustprocesstheaccused(fingerprints,etc.)

o Theallegedmurdererthenbecomesadefendantafterthecrimeischargedbypublicsafetyofficials.

o Agrandjurywillreviewtheevidenceprovidedbypublicsafetyofficials.Theprosecutor(oftenadistrictattorney)willpresentevidencebeforeagrandjurytodeterminewhetherthereisenoughevidencetoindicttheaccused.

o Theallegedmurdererwillpleadguiltyornotguilty.Prosecutorsanddefendantsoftenhaveconversationsoutsideofthecourtroomtooffer“pleabargains,”orreducedsentencestogetguiltypleas.

o Iftheallegedmurdererchoosesnottopleabargain,thecasegoestotrial.Itfollowsthesameprocessasaciviltrial,butthemajordifferenceisthestandardofproof.Theremustbe“beyondareasonabledoubt”proofthattheaccusedcommittedacrime.Thismeansthattheremustbenoreasonabledoubtthatthemurdererisguilty.Iffoundguilty,thereisasentencingprocess(sometimeschosenbythejudge,sometimesthejury).

o Defendantscanappealthesecases,butnonewevidencecanbeprovided.TheprosecutorsCANNOTappealacasetheyloseincriminalcourt,asthiswouldviolatetheprincipleofdoublejeopardy.Inamurdercasethatgoestotrialandfindsthedefendantguilty,theprocessislikelytobereviewed.Incapitalmurdercases(casesthatinvolvethedeathpenalty),thereareusuallylengthyappealsprocesses.

Civil/CriminalProcedurePosterandPresentation

8. Allowstudentstofurtherexplorethejudicialproceduresforcriminalandcivilcasesbyexaminingoneoftheattachedscenariosandcompletingaposterinwhichtheymapoutthejudicialprocesstheirassignedcasewouldtake:• Breakstudentsintopairsorsmallgroupsandgiveeachpair/groupeithertheattachedBuggsyJones

caseortheBrendaButtoncase.(Trytoensureanequalnumberofpartnersaredealingwitheachcase.)

• Providestudentswith15+minutestoreviewthecaseandproduceaposter(detailedinstructionsareonthehandouts.)

• Aftergoingovertheinstructionsonthehandouts,clarifywithstudentsthatthefinalpostershouldtraceallofthestepsineitherthecriminalorciviljudicialprocess,aswellaschoicestocontinueorendthelegalproceedingsateachpointintheprocess.Theyshouldalsodeterminewhattheywouldrecommendiftheywereprovidinglegaladviceinthecase.(Letstudentsknowthattheydonothavetogothrougheverystep–i.e.pleabargainingandsettlingareoptions.)

9. Oncestudentshavefinishedtheirposters,teachershavetwooptionsforpresentationandreviewof

studentwork:

5

• Option1:o Whenstudentshavefinishedtheirposters,havethemhangthemonthewall(separatedby

case).Allowstudentsapproximately5minutesfora“gallerywalk”duringwhichtheycanviewthevariousposters,notinganydifferencesorirregularitiestheyseebetweenposters.(Beforelettingstudentsstarttheirgallerywalk,itwillbehelpfultohavetwostudentvolunteersreadeachcasescenariofortheentireclass.Also,teachersshouldreviewtheirexpectationsforsafemovementaroundtheroom.)

o Whenfinishedwiththegallerywalk,reassemblethestudentsanddiscussbothcasesasaclass.Youmaychoosetocallongroupswhosepostersmadeinterestingarguments,wereespeciallycreative,orwhosedecisionspuzzledyoutoexplaintheirreasoning.

o Youshouldalsoaskstudentsthemajorsimilaritiesanddifferencestheynoticedbetweentheirgroup’sposterandotherpostersonthesamecase.Clarifyanyinconsistenciesorincorrectposters.

• Option2:o Afterallpartnershavecompletedtheirposter,combineeachpairofstudentswithanotherpair

ofstudentsthatworkedontheoppositecase.Haveeachpairofstudentsinthesenewlyformedgroupsoffourteachtheothertwostudentsabouttheircaseanditsprocess.Eachpairinthegroupoffourshouldsummarizethecaseonwhichtheyworked,explainwhetheritiscivilorcriminal,explaintheprocesstheybelievethecasewouldtakethroughthejudicialsystem,andexplainwhattheirrecommendationsregardingthecasewouldbe.

o Onceallpairsintheirnewlyformedgroupshavetaughtoneanotheraboutthetwocases,bringtheclassbacktogetheranddiscusseachcaseasawholeclass,ensuringallstudentsunderstandaccurateproceduresandoptionsforeachcase.Clarifythechoicesvariousgroupsmade.(Forexample,afteraskingforthedecisionsthatstudentsmadeastheywentthroughthelegalprocess,ifastudentsaystheywentallthewaythroughtheappealsprocessintheBrendacase,askthemhowexpensivetheythinkthatprocesswouldbe.IftheysaidtheytookapleabargainintheBuggsycase,askthemwhethertheywoulddoitiftheywere100%positivethattheirclientwasinnocent.Usetheiranswersasjumpingoffpointsfortheclasstohaveadiscussionabouthowthelegalsystemworks.)

10. Optionalhomeworkorquiz:Providetheattachedsampletextquestionsforstudentstocompleteasan

assessmentattheendofclass,orforhomework.

6

TenCommandmentsWarm-UpImage

7

LawOriginsName: Period: Date:TypesofCodes

• MoralCode–

• LegalCode–

FamousCodesofLawThroughHistory

• CodesofHammurabi()–

• TenCommandments()–

• JustinianCodes()–

• DraconianLaws()–

• EnglishBillofRights()–

• BritishCommonLaw()–

• IroquoisNation’sConstitution()–

• SocialContract()–

• MagnaCarta()–

• DeclarationofIndependence()–

• U.S.Constitution()–

8

TypesofLaw• Usingthesedifferentorigins,manydifferent___________oflawdeveloped.

• Therearesevenmajortypesoflaw:

9

CommonLaw

CriminalLaw

CivilLaw

ConstitutionalLaw

AdministrativeLaw

StautoryLaw

InternationalLaw

10

LawOrigins-KeyName: Period: Date:TypesofCodes

• MoralCode–Acodeofconduct.Whatisright/wrong.DefinedbySociety.

• LegalCode–Atypeoflegislationthatcreateslawsforasociety.Unlikea

MoralCode,thesecanbeenforcedinacourtoflaw.

FamousCodesofLawThroughHistory

• CodesofHammurabi(1760BC)–DevelopedinAncientBabylon,thiscodedemonstrates

reciprocalpunishment.Meaningan“eyeforaneye:”

• TenCommandments(Approx.1446BC)–AlistofmoralandreligiousprinciplesgiventoMosesin

AncientIsrael.Containsmanyprinciplesstillusedtoday(thoushallnotkill,steal,covet,etc.)

• JustinianCodes(529-534AD)–ThisCode,fromtheByzantineEmpire,compiledmanyRoman

Lawsintodifferentsingularareas.BecameabasisforcivillawintheByzantineEmpire.

• DraconianLaws(Around610BC)–AncientGreekcode.Thecodewasveryharsh,orderingdeath

formanycrimes(includingtinyoneslikestealinganapple).Thiswasdonetoquellrebellions,but

didnotwork.

• EnglishBillofRights(1689)–ProtectedcertainrightsofEnglishcitizens,includingtherightto

petitionandbeararms.

• BritishCommonLaw(1154)–CommonLawistheideathatcurrentcourtcasescanbejudged

basedontheideaofprecedent.Courtsreviewcasesanddecideonprecedent.Courtscanalso

overturnprecedent.

• IroquoisNation’sConstitution(1500s)–AlsocalledGayanashagowa(orGreatLawofPeace).This

createda“GreatPeacemaker”(likeaPresident),andisthoughttohaveinfluencedtheUS

Constitution.

• SocialContract(1651,1689,1762)–DevelopedbyHobbes,Rousseau,andLocke,thisistheidea

thatpeoplegiveupsomeoftheirrightsinordertomaintainasocietyandgovernment.

• MagnaCarta(1215)–M.C.requiredtheKingofEnglandtobeboundbylaws.Italsoprotected

“habeascorpus,”ortherighttoappealunlawfuldetention.FormedalargebasisoftheUS

Constitution.

11

• DeclarationofIndependence(1776)–WrittenprimarilybyThomasJefferson,thisstatementis

notlaw,butidentifiesmanyhumanrightsandprinciplesthatinformourlawstoday.Also

declaredUSindependence.

• U.S.Constitution(1787)–BasisofAmericanlaw,establishedprotectedrightsintheBillofRights.

LawTypes• Usingthesedifferentorigins,manydifferenttypesoflawdeveloped.

• Therearesevenmajortypesoflaw:

12

CommonLaw

•Crucialtounderstandinghowlawworks.TheUSConstitutiondoesnothavealllawsspelledout,butinstead,thecourtsreviewpreviouscasesandmakedecisionsbasedonprecedent.Attimes,courtsoverruleprecedents(orStareDecisis).

CriminalLaw

•Punishmentforcrimes(includingjail,execution,parole,andfines).Thisisusuallyenforcedbythegovernment,shownonmostTVshows.•Twotypesofsentences,amisdemeanorandafelony.

CivilLaw

•Thesearedisputesbetweenindividualsorprivateparties.Thishappenswhensomeonewrongsanother,andisusuallyrequiredtopaymoneytorightthewrong.Thinkofacaraccident.Onepersonisinthewrong,butwasbeingnegilgent(notcriminal).Theypaytheotherpartytorightthewrong.Areasincludetort,contract,wills,andothers.Atortisalawsuitthatonepartyfilesagainstanother(youcangiveanexampleofalawsuit).

ConstitutionalLaw

•GovernstheinterpreatationoftheUSConstitution.ThiswasthebasisformanydecisionsofpublicpolicyinAmerica(Brownv.Board,Roev.Wade,Bushv.Gore,etc.).Thereareargumentsaboutwhethertointerpretthetextliterally,orassomethingtobeinterpretedasthecountrychanges.

AdministrativeLaw

•ThisareaoflawcoverstheGovernmentAgencies.ThisincludestherulesoftheFoodandDrugAdministrationforexample.Therearetworolesthisareahas,rule-makingandadjudication.Adm.Lawmakesrulestoregulateindustries,anddecidescasesthroughadjudication(ortheenforcementofthoserules).

StautoryLaw

•ThesearelawspassedbytheStateLegislatureortheUSCongress.Thesebeginas"bills"beforebecominglaw.Theyactlikeanadditionalbranchoflaw,andcoverawidevarietyofareas.Ifalawisfoundtobe"unconstitutional"theUSorStateSupremeCourtscanstrikeitdown.

InternationalLaw

•Thesearelawsbetweendifferentcountries,expressingtreaties,tradeagreements,andothervaluesandstandards.Forexample,theGenevaConventionsareatypeofinternationallawthatbanpracticesliketorture.

13

ReviewofLaw–Side1Name: Period: Date:

FamousCodesofLawThroughHistory

Pickoneofthefamousexamplesoflawthroughouthistory.Provideabrief

discussionofthatlaw,andhowyouthinkitinformsthelawthatwemaketoday.

Youmayuseanyoneoftheelevenexamplesprovidedinyournotes.

TheAreasofLaw

Nexttoeachareaoflawbelow,pleaseprovideadefinitioninYOUROWNWORDS,aswellasan

exampleofthisareaoflaw.YoumaydrawonthemanyexamplesbroughtupinourJeopardygame,

yourpersonalexperiences,oryoumayattempttomakeoneup.Forexample,withCriminalLaw,I

mightmakeuptheexamplecrimeofstealing700lbsofmayonnaisefromthelocalgrocerystore.This

wouldbetriedinacriminalcourtbecauseitinvolvestheft.

1.CommonLaw-

2.CriminalLaw-

14

ReviewofLaw–Side2

TheAreasofLaw–cont’d

3.CivilLaw-

4.ConstitutionalLaw-

5.AdministrativeLaw-

6.StatutoryLaw-

7.InternationalLaw-

15

CivilandCriminalProcedureFlowchartsName: Period: Date:

CivilProcedure CriminalProcedure

16

1.Dispute

2.Complaintfiled

3.Defendantcan:

4.DiscoveryPeriod

5.Askforsummaryjudgement

6.Trial

7.Appeals

1.CrimeCommitted

2.Prosecuted/Processed

3.Charged

4.Indicted

5.Plea

6.Trial/Verdict

7.Appeals

17

CivilandCriminalProcedureFlowcharts-KeyName: Period: Date:

CivilProcedure Majoritysettledoutofcourt CriminalProcedureMajorityplea

bargained

1.DisputeLitigationhappensbecauseatleasttwopeopledisagreeoversomething

2.ComplaintfiledTheplaintifffilesalegalcomplaintagainstadefendantinacivilcase.

3.Defendantcan:1.Ignoreandreceivedefaultjudgement,2.Motiontodismiss,3.Fileanswertocomplaint

4.DiscoveryPeriodBothsidesfindoutinformationfromoneanotherthroughdepositionsandinterogatories

5.Askforsummaryjudgement/avoidtrialSummaryjudgmentsarebeforeatrialwhennodisputes.Canalsosettlethecaseorgotoarbitration(bindingagreementoutofcourt)

6.TrialJuryselection/openingstatementsbyplaintiff,responsebydefense/rebuttals/closingarguments.Onlyneed51%ofjurytoagree.

7.AppealsYoucanfileanappealtoahighercourt,buttheydonottakenewevidence.

1.CrimeCommittedAnoffensehastobecommittedandaninvestigationhastobeconducted

2.Prosecuted/ProcessedChargeshavetobebrought,theaccusedmustbeprocessed(fingerprint,etc.)

3.ChargedAfterchargesarebrought,theaccusedbecomesadefendant

4.IndictedGrandjurydeterminesifenoughevidencetoindict.Onlyprosecutorpresentsevidence.

5.PleaCanpleadguiltyornotguilty.Oftenprosecutorswillofferlightersentencesthrough"pleabargaining"togetguiltypleas

6.Trial/VerdictSameprocess,althoughhigherburdenofproof"beyondareasonabledoubt."

7.AppealsCanappealcases,butnonewevidence.Capitalmurdercaseshavemany(lengthy)appealsprocesses.

18

TheCaseofBuggsyJones&Gas-Em’-Up-Poster

Directions• Youwillhave______minutestocompleteyourgroupwork.• Beginbyindividuallyreadingthecasesummary.Jotdownsomenotes

aboutthecaseandunderlinetheimportantpoints.• Onceyouandyourpartner/grouphasfinishedreading,talkaboutthecase,

summarizingitforoneanotherandclarifyinganyquestions.Determinewhattypeofcasethisis:criminalorcivil.

• Next,mapout(onnotebookpaper)thestepsthiscasewouldgothroughinthejudicialprocess.TraceALLofthepossiblestepsofthiscase.Youmayuseyournotestoensureaccuracy.

• Ateachstep,eachofyoushoulddecidewhetheryouwouldadviseyourpotentialclienttocontinueintheprocessornot.ProvideashortexplanationofWHYyouwouldadvisetheclientthisway.(Forexample,ifyoutellaclienttogoallthewaythroughtheappealsprocess,WHYdoyouthinkthisisinyourclient’sbestinterest?)

• Onceyouaresureofthejudicialprocessthecasewouldgothrough,andhaveexploredalloftheoptionsateachstep,createaposterdetailingthisinformation.Anyoneunfamiliarwithyourcaseandthejudicialprocessshouldbeabletolearnthisinformationfromreadingyourposteranditsmapofthejudicialprocess.Becreative,colorful,andaccurate!

• Allgroupmembersmustparticipate.Bepreparedtoshareyourposterswithclassmates,aswellastakequestionsfromyourteacherandfellowclassmatesregardingyourwork.

CaseSummary

BuggsyJonesisaccusedofrobbingGas-Em’-Up,agasstation.Theownerreportedtherobberytopoliceofficers.Thepoliceperformedaninvestigation,andtheownerclaimsthatBuggsyrobbedhimatgunpoint.SecuritycamerafootageofBuggsyisprovidedbytheowner,althoughtherobberwaswearingamask.ThePoliceseethisasanopenandshutcase.TheychargeBuggsywitharmedrobbery,andofferhima2yearsentenceinexchangeforaguiltyplea.Buggsymaintainshisinnocence.Yourgroupneedstohelpadvisehimofthelegalprocessandhisoptionsgoingforward.

19

TheCaseofBrendaButtonv.GoGoAuto-Poster

Directions• Youwillhave______minutestocompleteyourgroupwork.• Beginbyindividuallyreadingthecasesummary.Jotdownsomenotes

aboutthecaseandunderlinetheimportantpoints.• Onceyouandyourpartner/grouphasfinishedreading,talkaboutthe

case,summarizingitforoneanotherandclarifyinganyquestions.Determinewhattypeofcasethisis:criminalorcivil.

• Next,mapout(onnotebookpaper)thestepsthiscasewouldgothroughinthejudicialprocess.TraceALLofthepossiblestepsofthiscase.Youmayuseyournotestoensureaccuracy.

• Ateachstep,eachofyoushoulddecidewhetheryouwouldadviseyourpotentialclienttocontinueintheprocessornot.ProvideashortexplanationofWHYyouwouldadvisetheclientthisway.(Forexample,ifyoutellaclienttogoallthewaythroughtheappealsprocess,WHYdoyouthinkthisisinyourclient’sbestinterest?)

• Onceyouaresureofthejudicialprocessthecasewouldgothrough,andhaveexploredalloftheoptionsateachstep,createaposterdetailingthisinformation.Anyoneunfamiliarwithyourcaseandthejudicialprocessshouldbeabletolearnthisinformationfromreadingyourposteranditsmapofthejudicialprocess.Becreative,colorful,andaccurate!

• Allgroupmembersmustparticipate.Bepreparedtoshareyourposterswithclassmates,aswellastakequestionsfromyourteacherandfellowclassmatesregardingyourwork.

CaseSummary

BrendaButtonwasinaseriouscaraccident;shewashitbyadrunkdriver.Brendasuesthedrunkdriverfornegligentbehavior.Brendaalsosueshercar’smanufacturer,GoGoAuto,sincewhenthecarBrendawasdrivingwasstruckbythedrunkdriver,theairbagsdidnotdeploy.ThiscausedseriousfacialinjurytoBrenda.GoGoAutohashiredyouasanattorneyinthiscase.Yourjobistowalkthemthroughthedifferentstepsoftheprocessandadvisethemoftheirbestoutcomes.Itshouldbenotedthatasimilarincidenthappenedtwicebeforewiththeircompetitors,JoyAutoandCarLoveAuto.JoyAutowentthroughtheentirelegalprocessandlosttheirlawsuit(incurringlegalfeesandacashawardtotheplaintiff).CarLoveAutosettledoutofcourtforanundisclosedamount.

20

Name:Period:Date:1.ThiscodeoflawwasdevelopedinAncientBabylonanddemonstratedtheprincipleofreciprocalpunishment.A. CodesofMontezumaB. TheJustinianCodesC. TheBabylonianCodesD. CodesofHammurabi2.AllofthesehistoricaldocumentsinfluencedtheAmericansystemoflawEXCEPT:A. DraconianLawsB. IroquoisNation’sConstitutionC. SocialContractTheoryD. CodesofPonceDeLeon3.WhichofthesedocumentslimitedthepowerofEngland’sKingandforcedhimtobeboundbytheruleoflaw?A. TheMagnaCartaB. TheEnglishBillofRightsC. TheDeclarationofIndependenceD. EnglishCommonLaw

4.Whichofthesedocumentsis/wasnotalegallybindingdocument?A. TheUnitedStatesConstitutionB. TheDeclarationofIndependenceC. TheEnglishBillofRightsD. CodesofHammurabi

5.Readthedescriptionofthelegalcasebelowanddecidetheareaoflawbestsuitedtohandlethecase.Acompanymanufacturestomatosoup.Thecancontainingthesoupcontainsadefectthatcausesconsumerstoinjuretheirhandswhentheyopenthecan.Theconsumerswanttofilealawsuittopayfortheirmedicalbills.A. StatutoryLawB. AdministrativeLawC. CivilLawD. CriminalLaw

21

6.Lawsthatgovernagreementsbetweencountries(suchastreatiesandagreements)aregovernedbywhatareaoflaw?A. UnitedNationsResolutionsB. InternationalLawC. ConstitutionalLawD. CommonLaw7.Ifatheftoccursinagrocerystore,thestore’sownermayfindalegalresolutionineachavenueEXCEPT:A. CivilLawCaseB. CriminalLawCaseC. AdministrativeLawCaseD. Notfilingcharges9.AdecisionbroughtbeforetheUnitedStatesSupremeCourtisusuallywhichareaoflaw?A. ConstitutionalLawB. CommonLawC. CriminalLawD. StatutoryLaw

9.Acomplaintis_____________________.A. WhenadefendantfilesamotiontodismissacasebasedonalackofevidenceB. WhenaplaintifffilesamotiontodismissacasebasedonalackofevidenceC. WhenaplaintifffilesalegalchargeagainstadefendantD. Whenadefendantfilesalegalchargeagainstaplaintiff10.SelectthecorrectorderinCriminalLawProcedure:A. Complaint→Discovery→TrialB. Appeal→Discovery→TrialC. Trial→Discovery→AppealD. Indictment→Trial→Appeal11.TheDiscoveryPeriodinaCivilLawcaseisbestdefinedas:A. Whenbothsidesfindoutinformationfromoneanotherthroughdepositionsandinterrogatories.B. Whenbothsidesdiscoverevidencebythemselvesandseeksubpoenapowers.C. WhenaclaimantdiscoversthatacaseisnotworththelegalexpensetofileD. Whenthecrimeisdiscovered.

22

AnswerKey1.D2.D3.A4.B5.C6.B7.C8.A9.C10.D11.A