COURSE OUTLINE LAW

Transcription

1 COURSE OUTLINE LAW Welcome to Law 12! Law 12 is a survey course about the legal system in Canada. After a brief look at the Uhistorical origins of Canadian lawu and some of the religious influences on it, we will study the court system in Canada in some detail to discover what kinds of cases are handled by local and higher courts in our system. Canada s justice system has become uniquely Canadian over the years, although its British origins and roots are still very visible. The main reason for this is the fact that, since 1982, Canada has its own UConstitution,U which includes the UCanadian Charter of Rights and FreedomsU. This constitution has caused a lot of change in the legal system by placing a much stronger emphasis on the Urights of the individualu. The use of the charter has also greatly increased the importance of the Supreme Court of Canada. Our top judges now have more influence than ever before. For this reason we need to learn what our rights are exactly, and how we, as Christians, ought to make use of them. Other sections of the course deal with the area of Ucriminal lawu, and the UCriminal Code of CanadaU. We will also study the law with respect to the use of motor vehicles, Udrugs and alcohol consumption and abuse,u and the legal status and treatment of young offenders. We will have to consider the role of law enforcement officers, lawyers, and judges in the legal system. Every effort will be made to visit a courtroom, hold mock trials, debates, and negotiations. Later on, we will study other areas of the law as it relates to how a citizen must learn to get along with his neighbour and learn to resolve disputes peacefully. This includes a survey of Ucivil law, contract law, and labour lawu. Or, if you like: suing your neighbour, making deals with your neighbour, and working for your neighbour. If time permits, we will also study the importance of making and having a last will and testament. There are many controversial aspects to these chapters, and many of the issues will be discussed and debated in class. Finally, some time will be set aside to examine current trends in Canadian law with respect to the legal status of women and aboriginal peoples. Since all of these topics are of great concern to us as citizens living in Canada, it should be clear that one of the main purposes of this course is to promote sound faith-based thinking about justice issues in Canada.

2 Class Resources 1. PowerPoints and Lectures 2. Films, clips, and documentaries 3. Law 12 Coursepack The traditional primary texts for the course are becoming difficult to use, based on their age. A single new class text has not be found that covers all the requirements of the course, and so Law 12 curriculum is drawn from a variety of sources. The majority of the course will be taught using PowerPoint presentations and Student Coursepacks, supplemented heavily with case studies, research, debate, and trial components. This allows the most flexible approach to the material and the best way to ensure elements are up-to-date and relevant. When possible, we will use Internet sources, film, court trips, and other elements to supplement the classroom materials. Evaluation Because of the way the course is taught, simply keeping up with the large quantities of information and being able to use it in practice, is a significant undertaking. The Student Coursepackss are designed to lessen the organizational and writing load as much as possible, but students will need to remain alert, focussed, and actively participating in order to succeed. As such, class work habits and participation in debate, discussion, and preparations of arguments to the court will factor heavily in your overall mark. Often you will be divided into prosecution and defense legal teams, and will be researching and presenting arguments to the judge, Your ability to contribute to your team is essential. Other forms of evaluation will include section tests for most sections of the course, written responses and evaluation of cases and debate topics, some research assignments, and trial participation. Class Attendance / Late Work Class attendance is mandatory. It is impossible to follow the material and do well on tests and assignments unless you are in class. Any missed work remains your responsibility to catch up on. If a class needs to be missed for any reason, you will need to inform the teacher as soon as possible.

3 If an assignment is not able to be handed in on time, you will need to inform the teacher prior to its due date. Extensions can be given for valid reasons, but not on the day the assignment is due. Ample lead time is given when possible, so last-minute scrambling should not be required. Overall, the homework load is relatively light. The majority of required work will be done in class. Course Completion All key course assignments will need to be submitted in order to receive credit for the course. Academic Honesty In the academic world, cheating, plagiarism, or copying work is a very serious offense. Many universities will eject a student from a course on a first offense, and may eject the student from the university itself on a second. Any academic dishonesty will be treated very seriously here as well, especially when considering our Christian mandate for honest and dedicated work in all things. Any assignment on which there has been any dishonest activity will receive a 0 grade, and will need to be completed properly in order to fulfill the requirements of the course. The redone assignment will not be given graded credit. Required supplies Law 12 will require a binder for organization, Workbooks as provided, pens or pencils, and a keen mind. Teacher Contact The teacher can be contacted either via phone or via 0TU U0T. Resources for the course will be posted on a website as well, so students are able to download additional or replacement copies if required. The website address is

4 LAW 12 --THE LAW IN CANADA COURSE OUTLINE 1. Chapter 1 What is Law? 2. Chapter 2 Making Law in Canada a. The Constitution Act of 1867 b. The Branches of Government c. Regulations d. Interpretation of laws e. Tort Law f. Contract Law g. Family Law h. Criminal Law i. Civil Law j. Charter Law 3. Chapter 3 Resolving Legal Disputes a. Out of Court settlements b. The Canadian Court System. c. The Supreme Court of Canada. d. The Courtroom Drama. e. The Ethics of Lawyers and Judges 4. Chapter 4 Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms a. History of Rights and Freedoms in Canada b. Balancing the Power of the Charter c. Fundamental Freedoms d. Democratic Rights e. Legal Rights f. Equality Rights g. Language Rights 5. Chapter 5 Introduction to Criminal Law a. Criminal Law in Canada b. Criminal Law vs. Civil Law c. The Causes of Crime d. Elements of a Crime

5 6. Chapter 6 Offences a. The Classification of Offences b. Offences in the Criminal Code c. Parties to an Offence 7. Chapter 7 Defences a. Alibi b. Automatism c. Mental Disorder d. Intoxication e. Mistake of Fact f. Self Defence g. Duress h. Consent i. Legal Duty j. Entrapment k. Double Jeopardy 8. UChapter 8 - Sentencing and CorrectionsU a. Goals of Sentencing b. Types of Sentencing c. Alternatives General Classroom Expectations It is expected that students will: - Arrive at class on time, and with all required materials. - Be ready to work. - Not talk during instruction or while another student has the floor. - Support and encourage their fellow students, providing constructive feedback on work. - Participate!

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