Democracy, Law, and Justice

Transcription

1 Democracy, Law, and Justice By Daniel S. Campagna, Ph. D., and Ann Beauchamp Campagna Copyright 1996 Mark Twain Media, Inc. ISBN Printing No EB Mark Twain Media, Inc., Publishers Distributed by Carson-Dellosa Publishing Company, Inc. The purchase of this book entitles the buyer to reproduce the student pages for classroom use only. Other permissions may be obtained by writing Mark Twain Media, Inc., Publishers. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.

2 Table of Contents Table of Contents Introduction...iv Democracy...1 Lady Liberty...2 United States Government...3 Declaration of Independence...4 United States Constitution...5 Preamble to the United States Constitution...6 Bill of Rights...7 Do You Know Your (Bill of) Rights?...9 Equal or Identical?...10 Democracy Word Scrambler...11 Democracy Cryptogram...12 Democracy Word Search Puzzle...13 Democracy Crossword Puzzle...14 Law...15 Fair vs. Unfair Laws...16 Civil Law...17 The Case of the Lost Vacation...17 Everyday Laws...18 Criminal Law...19 Just Desserts or Injustice?...20 Criminal or Civil Wrong?...21 What Am I?...22 That s Not Fair!...23 Law Word Scrambler...24 Law Cryptogram...25 Law Word Search Puzzle...26 Law Crossword Puzzle...27 The System of Justice...28 Judicial Process: Steps and Procedures...29 Courtroom Actors...30 Court...31 Who s Who in Court?...32 What s What in Court?...32 Judge...33 My Place or Yours?...35 Criminal Trial...36 One Dumb Robber...36 State v. Jake Merriweather...37 Salem Witch Trials...38 A Court of Errors...39 ii

3 Table of Contents Court Cryptogram...40 Court Word Scrambler...41 Court Word Search Puzzle...42 Justice Crossword Puzzle...43 Justice Word Search Puzzle...44 Law Enforcement...45 Organization of Law Enforcement...46 Federal Bureau of Investigation...47 Employment in the FBI...48 Police Cryptogram...49 Police Word Scrambler...50 Police Word Search...51 Police Crossword Puzzle...52 Extent of Crime...53 Crime Facts...54 Did You Know?...55 Crime Picture Word Scrambler...56 Crime Word Search Puzzle...57 Explaining Criminal Behavior...58 Why Did She Do It?...59 Criminal Behavior Word Scrambler...60 Criminal Behavior Word Search Puzzle...61 Juvenile Justice...62 Legal Rights of Juveniles...63 Juvenile Justice Cryptogram...64 Juvenile Justice Word Scrambler...65 Juvenile Justice Word Search Puzzle...66 Big 35 Word Search Review...67 Cryptograms: Master Key...68 Answer Keys...69 Bibliography...76 iii

4 Democracy Democracy The United States is a nation of over 260 million people that have come from many different countries and cultures. These people have united together to form a democracy. A democratic nation is one built upon the basic principles of freedom, equality, and representation. Freedom refers to our right to live as we choose, within the limits of the law. The right to speak our minds, vote, join the military, and marry are a few examples of personal freedoms. Our freedom does not allow us to interfere with others who have different lifestyles or values unless they conflict with the law. All citizens, regardless of race, religion, gender, age, or color, must be treated fairly by the government and other members of society in a democracy. Every person must be accorded the same privileges and protections enjoyed by all other citizens. Every adult, for instance, is entitled to a trial by his or her peers if accused of a serious crime. This is equality. Representation is the belief that every adult should and can participate in government. There are two ways in which citizens can participate in government: by voting or by running for public office, such as mayor or state legislator. It is vital for the citizens in a democratic society to become involved in the government. Otherwise, we run the risk of letting a few people speak for the majority. Ideally, if everyone participates in the government, then the government represents everyone. In any society, all citizens should try to live in harmony with one another. By recognizing the importance of freedom, equality, and representation we make it possible for democracy to flourish. There are many rights provided for in a democracy. These cover a wide range of issues. The food we eat, the clothes we wear, the music we listen to, or the books we read are choices made possible by the rights included in our democratic government. It is important to note that a democracy is a type of majority rule. Individual values and minority rights, however, are especially honored as a way to allow all citizens a chance to express and achieve personal ambitions. Ideally then, a democracy does not allow one group to profit at the expense or disadvantage of another group but rather to strike a delicate balance between the will of the majority and the rights of an individual. Man s capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary. -Reinhold Niebuhr- 1

5 Democracy: Lady Liberty Name Lady Liberty Date Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door! -Emma Lazarus, The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of democracy. She stands in New York Harbor as a welcoming figure for immigrants. Except for Native Americans, every United States citizen is a descendant of immigrants. Early immigrants came to the United States for a variety of reasons, including economic opportunity and escape from religious or political persecution. Many immigrants had opportunities in the United States that they would never have had if they had remained in their native countries. Do you think that the United States should continue to allow open immigration? Give reasons for your answer. (HINT: Think about the population, number of jobs available, possible language barriers, and so forth, as well as the opportunities for both Americans and immigrants who come to the United States.) 2

6 Democracy: United States Government United States Government The government of the United States is organized at three levels: federal, state, and local. Each level of government contains three branches, known as the executive, legislative, and judicial. These branches (or arms) of government perform certain duties and functions for its citizens. This arrangement of duties between the three levels is called the structure of government or separation of powers. Generally, the legislative branch is responsible for making laws, the judicial branch for interpreting the laws, and the executive branch for enforcing the laws. A simple way to keep the levels and branches straight is by reviewing the chart below. Think of it as a who s who and what s what guide to government. Division of Government Powers Executive Legislative Judicial Federal president Congress Federal Courts State governor State Assembly State Courts Local mayor City Council/ municipal Courts Board of Aldermen The federal government takes priority over the other two levels (state and local) because it deals with issues that may affect all citizens. The powers of the federal government include taxation, declaring war upon another nation, passing laws, and regulating commerce. State and local governments are allowed to pass laws on matters that pertain just to their state or city. Our national (federal) system of government is empowered to govern us because of the U.S. Constitution, which is supported by federal laws, court decisions, and administrative rules. The will of the people is expressed in the Constitution, which created a strong central government. It is so strong, in fact, that the sole power reserved exclusively for states is the right to exist. Only a state, in other words, may decide to exist or not. In all other matters and issues, the federal government is sovereign, or supreme, in its authority to rule over its citizens. 3

7 Democracy: Declaration of Independence Name Date Declaration of Independence We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it.... Thomas Jefferson authored the Declaration of Independence. The Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration on July 4, It reflects the basic principles of our nation. Which of the three principles of democracy (freedom, equality, representation), in your opinion, best matches these statements from the Declaration of Independence? Why do you believe they match? Freedom Equality Representation 1. All men are created equal 2. Unalienable rights 3. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness 4. Consent of the governed Thomas Jefferson could not have foreseen the needs and expectations of today s multicultural nation, which is so much different from the nation of early American settlers that he knew. Think of some ways that people pursue happiness today without hurting or interfering with others. 4