Key Topics and Definitions PDF

Key Topics and Definitions 1. Oppression of Minority Groups through Legislation: ○ Segregation laws: Enforced racial separation in public spaces. ○ Assimilation of minority groups: The process of integrating minority groups into the dominant culture, often throu...

Key Topics and Definitions 1. Oppression of Minority Groups through Legislation: ○ Segregation laws: Enforced racial separation in public spaces. ○ Assimilation of minority groups: The process of integrating minority groups into the dominant culture, often through legal and societal pressures. 2. Brown v. Board of Education (1954): ○ Landmark case that desegregated public schools. ○ Overturned "separate but equal" doctrine from Plessy v. Ferguson. 3. Civil Rights Act (1964): ○ Prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. 4. Common Law: ○ Definition: Judge-made laws based on precedent. ○ Origin: Britain. ○ Common Law Nations: Canada, New Zealand. 5. Civil Law Tradition: ○ Definition: A coded type of legal system. ○ Example: Code of Hammurabi. ○ Civil Law Nations: France, Germany. 6. Chinese Socialist Law: ○ Characteristics: Inquisitorial legal system, adversarial elements. 7. Meaning of Crime: ○ Mala in se: Crimes evil by nature (e.g., murder). ○ Mala prohibita: Crimes that are prohibited by law. 8. Limitations on Criminal Law: ○ 5 Elements of Criminal Liability: 1. Harm 2. Concurrence 3. Actus reus (criminal act) 4. Mens rea (criminal intent) 5. Causation 9. Crime Control vs. Due Process Models: ○ Crime Control: Focus on justice for society. ○ Due Process: Focus on justice for the offender. 10. Exigent Circumstance: ○ Exception to the warrant requirement when immediate action is necessary. 11. Mapp v. Ohio: ○ Supreme Court case applying exclusionary rule to states. 12. Criminal Procedure: ○ Rules on government operations during arrests and investigations. 13. Standard of Proof: ○ Civil Case: Preponderance of evidence. ○ Criminal Case: Beyond a reasonable doubt. 14. Tort Reform:  ○ Changes to reduce litigation or damages in civil lawsuits. 15. Tort Law: ○ Deals with civil wrongs (e.g., negligence). 16. Contract Law: ○ Requires an agreement between two parties. 17. 19th Amendment (1920): ○ Granted women the right to vote. 18. Patriarchy: ○ System where men hold power over women. 19. Types of Justice: ○ Distributive Justice: Fair allocation of resources. ○ Retributive Justice: Focus on punishment. ○ Restorative Justice: Victim-centered, aims to repair harm. 20. Social Change: ○ Inevitability of societal evolution. ○ Resistance to change: Profit, comfort, fear of discomfort. 21. Administrative Law: ○ Falls under civil law; governs regulatory agencies. 22. Juvenile Courts: ○ First Established: Chicago, Illinois (1899). ○ Focus: Rehabilitation over punishment. 23. Philosophies of Punishment: ○ Examples include deterrence, rehabilitation, retribution, and incapacitation. 24. Plea Bargaining: ○ Agreement between defendant and prosecutor for a lesser charge in exchange for a guilty plea. 25. Vice Crimes: ○ Examples: Prostitution, gambling, drug use. 26. Prohibition Era: ○ Led to increased criminality and gang activities. 27. Age of Consent: ○ Legal age at which individuals can consent to sexual activities; varies by jurisdiction. 28. 2nd Amendment: ○ Right to keep and bear arms. 29. Feminist Jurisprudence: ○ Examines the law from a female perspective. 30. Juvenile Delinquency Treatment: ○ Best approach: Providing a stable, supportive upbringing. 31. Socialization Process: ○ Begins with the family, influencing norms and values.