CLU3M- INTRODUCTION
Law and Society
Law: Its Purpose and History
• Everybody has a direct
experience with it
• Law and legal issues affect
everyone (be in school, drive a
car, where you can work, get
paid, renovate a basement)
• Incredibly important to know
your rights and responsibilities
• http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/to
p10s.html
Canada and its Law
• Every country has its own
history and culture that has
shaped its laws and
punishment
• Laws tell us about a
country’s past (any
examples?)
• Laws reveal the current
values and beliefs of a
country’s citizens (today?)
• https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=6YeCMK-DZeI
What is Law?
• like rules to a game yet apply to all members of society at all
times
• Laws regulate our activities from birth to death
• Therefore: Individuals are free to do whatever they want,
with one exception: You must not do those things the law
forbids, or prohibits
• Those that don’t agree with a law can lobby the government
to change it through joining a lobby or pressure group
What is Law?
• Laws tend to change with time and according to location
• Our constitution (The Canada Act) was created in 1867-
our laws cannot be the same today as then
• On a smaller scale- laws regarding snow removal are
important here but not in Vancouver
• Laws reflect the values and practical concerns in
provinces, states, counties and cultures.
Why Do We Have Laws?
• Laws usually create clear understanding about expected
behaviour
• As society grows it needs more law to control and limit the
behaviour of its citizens
• To enforce these laws, a society introduces punishments
for breaking the law
• If the laws do not change with society, then conflict and
revolt will occur
Function of Law
1.
Establish rules of Conduct
Ex:
1.
Provide a system of Enforcement
Ex:
1.
Protect Rights and Freedoms
Ex:
1.
Protect Society
Ex:
1.
EX:
Resolve Disputes
Law and Morality
• Laws are mostly practical (regulating traffic))- but many
reflect the moral values of the majority of society
• Controversial (why?)
• Physician assisted suicide
• Capital Punishment
• Abortion
• Corporal punishment for children
• Drug use
• Possession of certain types of images
• Sex education
• Torture
• Terrorism
Law and Justice
• Ultimate goal of law is to ensure justice for all
• What is Justice?
• Equality, fairness, accessibility, liberty, freedom
• Case by case situations or Letter of the law?
Justice
1.Treat like cases alike and different cases differently
2.We consider a law unjust if it discriminates on the basis of
irrelevant characteristics
3.Justice should be impartial; that is laws should be applied
regardless of a person’s position or financial status
4.We expect the law itself to be just in that it conforms to
society’s values and beliefs
R. v. Dudley and Stephens
Justice
• See handout- Justice activity
Anti-Terrorism Legislation
• 'Sometimes these things can become wins for extremists
and terrorists. They are trying to provoke further attacks
and if the response reinforces their perspective on the
state of the world, then it ends up helping their cause.‘
• - Scott Stewart, VP of tactical analysis at Stratfor
• 5 Things to know about Ottawa’s new anti-terrorism
measures