Chapter 1 Flashcards
(71 cards)
Law
Enforceable rules governing relationships among individuals and between individuals and their society
Hierarchy of the Sources of Law
- Constitutions
- Statutory Law
- Administrative Rules and Regulations
- Common Law (case law/judge-made law)
Constitutions
establish organization, powers, and limits of governments
US Constitution
- Supreme Law of the Land (everything is subject to it)
- Creates national government
- 10th amendment reserves all powers not granted to the federal government to the states
States’ Constitutions
- Create state governments
- Highest form of law within borders of that state
- Subject to the US Constitution
10th Amendment
Reserves all powers not granted to federal government to states
Statutory Law
- Created by Congress and state LEGISLATURES
- Found in federal and state code of laws
- Cannot violate constitutional law (state or federal)
- Municipal/County government ordinances
- Uniform laws
Municipal/County Government under Statutory Law
Enact ordinances, which govern matters not covered by state or federal law
Ordinances cannot violate U.S. or state consitituions
Uniform Laws under Statutory Law
Counter problems between state businesses and trades
State legislatures may reject or adopt uniform laws
IF adopted, the law becomes a part of the state statutory law
Do states have to adopt uniform laws?
No!
They can adopt all, partial, or none of the uniform law
UCC
Uniform Commercial Code
the most accepted uniform law
- facilitates commerce amongst states by providing a uniform set of rules on commercial transactions
- adopted by all 50 states, D.C, and the virgin islands
Administrative Law
Creates rules, orders, decisions of agencies
- can be local, state, or federal agencies
Agency functions under Administrative Law
- Rule making
- Investigation and enforcement
- Power to judge (adjudication)
(powers from all 3 branches are given to each agency)
Federal Agencies
Executive Agencies and Independent Regulatory Agencies
Executive Agencies
(within Executive branch)
Within the cabinet department
Independent Regulatory Agencies
Not subject to president/not part of the Executive branch.
- Officials cannot be removed without cause
Common Law
“Judge-made law”
Rules of law announced in court decisions, interprets statutes, regulations, constitutional provisions, and other case law
King’s Court “Curiae Regis”
COURTS OF LAW
- remedies: (address the issue) land, items of value, money
Chancery Court
COURTS OF EQUITY
- remedies: (when money can’t satisfy the issues) special performance, injunction, rescission
Early Courts
Norman Invasion
William the Conqueror
Legal Remedies/Remedies at Law
- Compensatory Damages
- Punitive/Exemplary Damages
- Nominal Damages
Special Damages under Compensatory Damages (Legal Remedies)
QUANTIFIABLE
1. Loss of time
2. Loss of money
3. Property damages
General Damages under Compensatory Damages (Legal Remedies)
NOT QUANTIFIABLE
1. Pain and suffering
2. Injury to reputation
3. Mental anguish
4. Disfigurement
5. Loss of earning capacity
Punitive/Exemplary Damages (Legal Remedies)
- The purpose is to punish the wrongdoer
- Designed to hurt be cause they are such a huge amount of money
- Given in addition to compensatory damages
Industries: pharmaceutical, oil and gas