#12 Class--Law & Social Policy Review for Final Exam 4-9-12

In process Saturday 8:00 a.m.
Draft

4-9-12

Lecture # 12: Law & Social Policy: Review & Preparation for Final

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1. Readings:
The scissors adorn by taking away. A French motto.

Literature is the art of sorting though. A French motto.

2. Summary of Classes #1 through #11: How Do You Prepare for the Final Exam?

Materials:
• The Syllabus—look at the four-page introduction and summary. Pay attention to the course objective, what is the course about and the ultimate questions posed by the course. Is justice the aim of both law and social policy? Look at all the quotes. Review broadly the class plans especially where I have made editorial comments in Lecture #1 and # 2 and # 5 and #11 and anything that describes the text, Democracy in America.
• Class # 5 Student Assignments on the big themes of the book functions as an index to the book as does the Class Plan # 4 in the Syllabus).
• Class summaries posted to Blackboard should be helpful. The substantive lectures are EXAMPLES of a broader topic: how law and social policy interact.
• The Text: Democracy in America---chapter 2: page 39: “The readers of this book will therefore discover in this chapter the seed of what follows and the key to almost the whole book”. Also page 816: “ I shall conclude with one general idea which comprises not only all the individual ideas expressed in the present chapter but also most of those which this whole book has aimed to highlight.” Chapters 3 & 4 are also important. Every question will allow you to use some of Tocqueville. While first two questions are about Tocqueville the others will allow you to use his text. I have read the book for you. In the book, pay attention to comments about the book: For example, the main idea of the book is to reveal American laws: see pages 335, 816-817, 49, 57, 58, 71, 319, 335, 357.
• Text: Federalist Papers: two main areas---war powers and how the government is structured. # 47 and #51 on checks and balance and separation of powers. #10 is the most famous (on factions, nature of constitution, dangers of majority rule).


The Big Ideas

• Equality,
• Freedom
• Judicial Review//Independent Judiciary
• Lawyers
• Free Press
• Threats of Majority Rule//Tyranny of Majority
• Liberty and Religion,
• War Powers
• Social Conditions and the Law (Sources of Law)
• The social //civic profile of America: Materialism, love of money, love of comfort, security, conformity, individuality, order, practicality, associations (factions).


3. Final Exam—specific questions considered
4. Administrative Time to allow students to complete written review of course//professor