David Ford Avon Ct is the best attorney in the town of Glastonbury. He provides legal advice on the different matters from criminal to financial.

1. David Ford Avon Ct

2. Definition of LAW
A set of rules of conduct
established by government for all
members of society to obey and
follow.

3. Name all the
laws you
can think of
that might
apply to
these
situations.

4. MAIN FUNCTIONS OF LAW
THINGS TO CONSIDER
 Provides a framework within which all members of
a society must behave
 Reflects a society’s values

5. 4 MAIN FUNCTIONS OF LAW
1) PROVIDES A BASIS FOR SETTLING DISPUTES
OR DISAGREEMENTS -peacefully through
discussion and negotiation or through the courts
as a last resort.

6. 2) ESTABLISHES RULES OF CONDUCT
-minimizes or reduces possible conflicts
ie: drinking age, speed limits, seatbelts, others???

7. 3) PROTECTS RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
-court system, RCMP, provincial and local police forces
ensure public safety and the protection of life and
property.
Criminal Law -prohibits individual’s rights
Constitutional Law -ensures individual rights aren’t
taken too far
Charter of Rights and Freedoms -limits law makers and
enforcers

8. 4) PROTECTION FOR SOCIETY
-protects people from groups who might take
advantage of you.
ie: Contract Law -protection from retailers,
landlords…
Labour Law -minimum wage, working conditions

9. ACTIVITY
1) Write down four “unfair” laws on a piece of paper.
2) Find a partner and share your statements with your
partner’s.
Reach a consensus on 2 of the eight laws that you think
should be changed.
3) Find another pair to share your opinions with. Reach a
consensus on only 4 laws you feel should be changed.
4) Each group write their “bad laws” on the board.
As a class choose which are the four worst laws from all
the lists.

10. What causes laws to change?
1) DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES
2) TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES
3) CHANGES IN VALUES
4) NATIONAL EMERGENCY

11. 1) DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES
 Change relating to birth and death
rates, trends in immigration,
education and employment.
Ex: pay equity for women, shift from
rural to urban in 1st half of 20th
Century lead to improvements in
working conditions for factories,
Medicare (Medical Care Act in 1966-
Tommy Douglas)

12. 2) TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES
 Decides which level of government has
jurisdiction over new inventions.
Ex: telephone, satellite, radio, Internet…

13. 3) CHANGES IN VALUES
 People used to tolerate certain
forms of behaviour in the past
that would be considered
outrageous today. Lobby groups
react to make changes to the
Criminal Code
Ex: Increased penalties for drunk
driving, anti-smoking laws for
public places, discrimination of
minority groups…

14. 4) NATIONAL EMERGENCY
 Changes the law to respond to national emergencies
which arise.
Ex:
Income Tax Act - response to depression after WW1
Anti-Terrorism Act/Public Safety Act – response to terrorist
attacks on US which greatly increases the investigative
powers of police and security forces.

15. “RULE OF LAW”- the fundamental principle that
society is governed by laws applying equally to
all persons and that neither any person, nor the
government is above the law.
 Formulated in the Magna Carta (list of legal rights that the
English barons forced King John to sign in 1215)
 Says laws are necessary to keep society orderly
 Applies equally to everyone, including highest officials
 Every person has legal rights which can’t be taken away,
unless they break the law
 Changes must occur in an orderly fashion and in a way that
reflects the decisions of a democratically elected
government.