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Chapter Two . Lawmaking . Legislatures . Legislatures are the primary law making bodies. U.S Congress: made up of two houses Senate: 100 members; 2 from each state House of Representatives: 435 members; each state represented according to size.
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Chapter Two Lawmaking
Legislatures • Legislatures are the primary law making bodies. • U.S Congress: made up of two houses • Senate: 100 members; 2 from each state • House of Representatives: 435 members; each state represented according to size. • Congress has the power to pass laws that are binding to all states • Statutes: written laws enacted by legislatures • National defense, homeland security, public health, postal service, etc. • States pass laws themselves • Education, traffic, state taxes,
Problem 2.1, Page 21 • Decide whether each of the following laws is federal, state, and/or local. Then give one example, not listed among the following, of a federal, a state, and a local law. • No parking on the east side of Main Street between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm • All persons between the ages of 6 and 16 must attend school. • Whoever enters a bank for purposes of taking by force or violence the property or money in custody of such bank shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than 20 years or both. • In order to sell any product on public streets, the seller must first apply for and receive a vendor’s permit. • No employer of more than 15 persons may discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. • All persons traveling on interstate airline carriers are subject to search before entering the airplane departure area.
Lawmaking • Bills: used to enact new laws or amend or repeal old laws. • Ideas come from legislators, the executive branch, groups, lobbyists, etc.
Lawmaking • Legislative intent: what the lawmakers who passed the law wanted it to mean.
The Case of the Unclear Law • Problem 2.2/ Page 22
Law in action • With a partner, complete problem 2.3 on page 23.
Lawmaking • Agencies • Created to implement laws (OSHA, EPA…) • Public hearings: give individuals or businesses the chance to express their views • Courts • Trials: court proceedings (think Law and Order) • Appeals/appellate court: where the loser of the original trial can go if they don’t like the decision.
International law • Problem 2.5/Page 28
Open note quiz • Match each item with the correct statement below. Some items will not be used. a. Bill of Rights e. legislative intent b. checks and balances f. limited government c. U.S. Constitution g. separation of powers d. Federalism h. supremacy clause • 1. When judges examine what the lawmakers meant by enacting a law in order to interpret an unclear law 2. Portion of the Constitution that states, “the Constitution and the Laws of the United States shall be the supreme law of the land” • 3. System designed to prevent any one branch of the federal government from becoming too powerful • 4. Division of power between the states and the federal government 5. Guarantees the fundamental rights and liberties of all Americans