Placeholder Image

字幕表 動画を再生する

  • Chapter 1, The Historical and Constitutional Foundations

  • If you've had American Government or Political Science class this might be review or at least

  • sound familiar to you. But it's a foundational chapter - the rest

  • of the semester we will talk about terms like "common law."

  • You'll hear that again in subsequent chapters. The slides and presentation is not a replacement

  • for reading the textbook. The examples and a lot of the cases are not

  • in this presentation so you are going to want to read the complete chapter.

  • Let's start out with a definition of Law. Enforceable rules governing relationships

  • among individuals and between those individuals and their society.

  • Rights, duties, and privileges that are consistent with the values and beliefs of a society.

  • The first source of American Law is Constitutional. It's based on the text of the Federal or US

  • Constitution and state constitutions. U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the

  • land. The next source of American law is Statutory

  • law. These are laws that are enacted by federal

  • and state legislatures and even go down to the local level (called ordinances). There's

  • even been some attempts among the states to create Uniform Laws (e.g., Uniform Commercial

  • Code or UCC that governs the sale of goods).

  • The next source of American law is Administrative Law

  • This include rules, orders and decisions of agencies at both the federal or state levels.

  • Could include independent regulatory agency (e.g. FDA).

  • The final rules are published in the Federal Register.

  • An example of this would be the Dodd-Frank Act.

  • The purpose of administrative law is to ensure that the rule issued is based on a consideration

  • of relevant factors rather than being arbitrary and capricious, which include the powers to:

  • Conduct Inspections and Tests. Issue Subpoenas.

  • Search Warrants.

  • The last source of American law we will talk about is Case Law or Common Law (I'll use

  • those terms interchangeably). Rules and decisions made by courts.

  • All areas of law not covered by statutory or administrative law.

  • Based on Early English law or King's Courts Established the common lawbody of general

  • legal principles applied throughout the English empire.

  • This is the biggest body of law we have today. Used precedent to build the common law.

  • Precedent Practice of deciding new cases based on prior

  • ones. Controlling precedent means a higher court's

  • decision has binding authority on lower courts. In some cases, higher courts depart from precedent.

  • Based on the concept of "Stare Decisis", which means "stand on decided cases."

  • So, courts don't reinvent the wheel - they tend to decide the same type of cases the

  • same way to be consistent. Lower courts need to follow suit.

  • Remedies are defined as "the enforcement of a right or compensate for injury to that right."

  • Remedy at Law In King's courts, remedies were restricted

  • to damages in either money or property. Remedies in Equity are different. It's based

  • on justice and fair dealing - doing what is right. Some examples include-

  • Specific Performance (order of the court making the other party do what they already promised

  • to do) Injunction (which might be an order preventing

  • somebody from doing something) Rescission (undoing a promise or contract)

  • Merging of Law and Equity Most courts today can award remedies in law

  • or equity. You can even ask for both remedies in the same case.

  • Classifications of Law Substantive vs. Procedural

  • Substantive Laws that define and regulate rights and duties.

  • Procedural (more about how to get those rights). Laws that establish methods for enforcing

  • and protecting rights. For example, we have a substantive right to an attorney. Procedurally,

  • that would mean the court would inquire as to whether we have an attorney or appoint

  • one to us in some cases if we are not able to afford one.

  • Civil Law and Criminal Law. Civil

  • private rights and duties between persons and government. Criminal

  • Public wrongs against society. National and International Law.

  • National Laws of a particular nation.

  • International Body of written and unwritten laws observed

  • by nations when dealing with each other.

  • Constitutional Powers of Government Federal Form of Government

  • Federal (U.S.) constitution was a political compromise between advocates of state sovereignty

  • and central government. You've probably heard of "Separation of Powers."

  • Legislative, Executive and Judicial branches provide checks and balances.

  • Legislative Enacts laws

  • Executive Enforces laws

  • Judicial Interprets laws (declares laws/actions unconstitutional)

  • Let's look specifically at the Commerce Clause! U.S. Constitution

  • Gives Congress the power to "regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several

  • States, and with the Indian tribes." (Art. 1 § 8)

  • Among the several states means "interstate commerce."

  • Greatest impact on business than any other Constitutional provision. It's called the

  • "Commerce" clause! U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted the Commerce

  • Clause over a long period of time. Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

  • To Chief Justice Marshall, commerce meant all business dealings that substantially affected

  • more than one state. The national government had the exclusive power to regulate interstate

  • commerce. They even went so far in Wickard v. Filburn

  • (1942) to say that a farmer who produced their own wheat and consumed it would impact Interstate

  • commerce. Purely local production, sale and consumption

  • of wheat was subject to federal regulation. Pretty broad interpretation!

  • Heart of Atlanta Motel v. U.S. (1964) Motels that provided public accommodations

  • were subject to federal civil rights legislation. Motels are part of interstate commerce! People

  • tend to stay at motels during travel.

  • Commerce Clause Today Theoretically - The Constitution hasn't changed.

  • The federal government has unlimited control over all business transactions since any enterprise

  • (in the aggregate) can have a "substantial effect" on interstate commerce.

  • Actually, the Supreme Court (through a number of cases) has curbed the federal power and

  • given the states some power to regulate in areas that may impact interstate commerce.

  • There is broad regulatory power given to the states.

  • Tenth Amendment Reserves all powers to the states that have

  • not been expressly delegated to the national government.

  • Police Powers (broader than just the police). State have inherent "police powers" (health,

  • safety, morals and general welfare). The text also mentions the "Dormant" Commerce

  • Clause. U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted commerce

  • clause to give national government exclusive power to regulate.

  • States only have a "dormant" (negative) power to regulate interstate commerce.

  • Dormant power comes into play when courts balance state's interest vs. national interest,

  • e.g., internet transactions (not around when the Constitution was framed). There could

  • be a federal regulation that impacts states, but there could also be a state law that impacts

  • interstate commerce and the court might determine that the state has a significant interest.

  • For example, taxing goods that are purchased on the Internet.

  • Supremacy Clause Article VI of the Constitution

  • Provides that Constitution, laws and treaties of the United States are the "supreme law

  • of the land." So, in an area where Congress has been given

  • the power they can exclusively regulate. In some cases, there is Concurrent Power.

  • Which means that both the states and federal government share powers.

  • Preemption When Congress chooses to act in a concurrent

  • area, federal law preempts state law.

  • Business and the Bill of Rights Originally

  • Bill of Rights only applied to the federal government.

  • Ten written guarantees of protection of individual liberties from government interference.

  • Today The Bill of Rights has been "incorporated"

  • and applied to the States as well. Some protections apply to businesses.

  • As we go through them, we'll focus on how they relate to business.

  • First Amendment -- Freedom of Speech Right to Free Speech is the basis for our

  • democratic government. Symbolic Speech

  • Includes gestures, movements, articles of clothing (e.g. Texas v. Johnson, U.S. 1989

  • about burning the flag). The US Supreme Court has permitted reasonable

  • restrictions on speech. Balance government's obligation to protect

  • community vs. individuals right to speech. There's even Corporate Political Speech

  • Corporations have protected political speech to financially support candidates.

  • Commercial Speech (such as marketing or advertising) Given substantial protection. Any restrictions

  • by the government must: (1) Seek to implement substantial government

  • interest, (2) Directly advance that interest, and

  • (3) Must go no further than necessary to accomplish. Example is Bad Frog Brewery, Inc. v. N.Y.

  • State Liquor Authority (1998). This was a Michigan brewery that had a frog on its label

  • with its middle finder up. Denial of label on beer was unconstitutional because

  • it lacked a "reasonable fit" with state's interest in shielding minors from vulgarity.

  • Basically, there are other ways to prevent minors from seeing this label than just banning

  • it.

  • First Amendment -- Unprotected Speech U.S. Supreme Court has held that certain speech

  • is NOT protected: Defamatory speech.

  • Threatening speech that violates criminal laws.

  • Obscene Speech is defined as ... Patently offensive, violates community standards

  • and has no literary, artistic, political or scientific merit.

  • This includes regulating speech online ... for example:

  • Filters for computers in public libraries and public schools (CIPA, 2000).

  • Child pornography (PROTECT ACT, 2003). What about "hate" speech on the web?

  • For example, even bullying online.

  • First Amendment - Freedom of Religion First Amendment guarantees that "Congress

  • shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise

  • thereof..." Doesn't say that there has to be a complete

  • separation of church and state! Establishment Clause

  • No state-sponsored religion or preference for one religion over another.

  • Free Exercise Clause Guarantees that a person can hold and practice

  • any (or no) religious belief. Only the actions of the government -- not the individual -- are

  • prohibited. Example in textbook - Local ordinance banning

  • steel cleats on roads was unconstitutional because it was directed at the Mennonite religion

  • (Mitchell County v. Zimmerman, 2012).

  • Due Process Procedural

  • Government decision to take life, liberty or property must be fair.

  • Requires notice and fair hearing. Substantive

  • Focuses on the content or the legislation (the right itself).

  • Really, the amount of attention the court gives it depends on:

  • Fundamental Right (a lot more scrutiny) Requires compelling state interest.

  • Non-Fundamental Rational relationship to state interest.

  • Equal Protection Government must treat similarly situated individuals

  • (or businesses) in the same manner. So, it doesn't have to treat everybody the

  • same! For example, two people convicted may not have the same criminal history or the

  • same circumstances. Courts apply different tests for challenges

  • based on Equal Protection: Minimum scrutiny (Rational Basis Test)

  • Economic or social welfare Legitimate government interest

  • Intermediate Scrutiny Gender or legitimacy

  • Important government interest Strict Scrutiny

  • Fundamental right or suspect traits (e.g. race)

  • Compelling government interest

  • Privacy isn't specifically mentioned in the U.S. Constitution.

  • U.S. Supreme Court has implied it from the Constitution (e.g. Fourth Amendment protection

  • against unreasonable search

  • and seizures). Certainly in the news a lot lately!

  • Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) Found a right to personal privacy implied

  • in constitution, expanded in Roe v. Wade (1973). Federal Statutes in the area of privacy. For

  • example: HIPAA (1996) (healthcare privacy).

  • Technological Advances and Privacy Rights. Court Records. Is there an expectation of

  • privacy? USA PATRIOT ACT (2001)

  • That was quite a while ago. There has even been more recent technology issues around

  • the NSA and their ability to monitor.

Chapter 1, The Historical and Constitutional Foundations

字幕と単語

ワンタップで英和辞典検索 単語をクリックすると、意味が表示されます

B1 中級

第1章 (Chapter 1)

  • 16 2
    Amy.Lin に公開 2021 年 01 月 14 日
動画の中の単語