Law and Society Syllabus
Ms. Summer Albayati, MA, MDiv
Course Description
Law and Society introduces students to law and legal systems in the United States by examining the U.S. Justice systems approach to criminal law, constitutional law, civil law and individual rights. This course will work to give students a better understanding of law and how it affects their life, engaging students in a critical examination of their legal responsibilities and rights. Students will read and discuss practical legal problems, contemporary legal issues, and the ramifications of breaking the law.
Course Objectives
Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Criminal Law, University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing, ISBN 13: 978-1-9461350-8-7
Course Outline
Unit 1: Introduction to Law and The Legal System
Section 1: What is Law?
Section 3: Introduction to Constitutional Law
Section 6: Introduction to Criminal Law
Section 8: Civil Law
**EXPECTATIONS: Participate; Be respectful; Academic honesty; Try your hardest; Success!
Ms. Summer Albayati, MA, MDiv
Course Description
Law and Society introduces students to law and legal systems in the United States by examining the U.S. Justice systems approach to criminal law, constitutional law, civil law and individual rights. This course will work to give students a better understanding of law and how it affects their life, engaging students in a critical examination of their legal responsibilities and rights. Students will read and discuss practical legal problems, contemporary legal issues, and the ramifications of breaking the law.
Course Objectives
Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Examine why laws are necessary in a democratic society.
- Understand the structure of the United States legal system.
- Describe the lawmaking process in the United States at the local, state, and national levels.
- Examine international law and universal human rights.
- Examine the definition of tort law and the court process for tort lawsuits.
- Examine the foundations of civil rights in society.
- Understand the basic civil rights contained within the First Amendment.
- Examine the freedom of privacy in society.
- Study and understand the premise of discrimination within society.
- Apply citizenship and life skills through active participation in topic based discussions.
- Apply legal theories and information to scenarios and case studies.
- Identify, analyze, discuss, and formulate a position regarding current public issues.
- Recognize disputes between parties and use systematic processes to attempt to resolve such disputes.
- Appreciate a diversity of viewpoints.
- Examine career opportunities within the legal field.
- Examine the process of investigating crime.
- Examine the criminal pre-trial, trial, and post-trial process
- Describe and chart the process by which a bill becomes a law on both the State and Federal level.
Criminal Law, University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing, ISBN 13: 978-1-9461350-8-7
Course Outline
Unit 1: Introduction to Law and The Legal System
Section 1: What is Law?
- 1.1 What is Law?
- 1.2 The Bystander Effect Case Study
- 1.3 Lawmaking
- 1.4 Advocacy
- 2.1 Conflict Resolution
- 2.2 The State Court System
- 2.3 The Federal Court System
- 2.4 Case Study of Gideon v. Wainwright
Section 3: Introduction to Constitutional Law
- 3.1 Constitutional Law
- 4.1 Freedom of Speech
- 4.2 Case of Tinker v. Des Moines
- 4.3 Freedom of the Press
- 4.4 Prior Restraint Case Study
- 4.5 Freedom of Religion
- 5.1 Due Process
- 5.2 Privacy Rights
- 5.3 Discrimination
- 5.4 Case of Brown v. Board of Education
Section 6: Introduction to Criminal Law
- 6.1 Introduction to Criminal Law
- 6.2 Gun Control
- 6.3 Crimes against the Person
- 6.4 Case of the Dying Patient
- 6.5 Crimes against Property
- 7.1 Defenses
- 7.2 The Investigation
- 7.3 Pretrial Proceedings
- 7.4 The Trial
- 7.5 Sentencing and Corrections
- 7.6 Capital Punishment Case Study
Section 8: Civil Law
- 8.1 Introduction to Civil Law
- 8.2 Intentional Torts
- 8.3 Negligence
- 8.4 Strict Liability
- 8.5 Torts and Public Policy
- 8.6 Defenses to Torts
**EXPECTATIONS: Participate; Be respectful; Academic honesty; Try your hardest; Success!