The American Legal System, Securing A Nation
Written By Lindsay V.
The legal system of the United States of America is based upon the theory that life, liberty, and property must be protected. While some may view federal, state or city laws as limiting their freedoms, laws do prevent people from actions that may cause harm to others. Understanding this concept and the legal system is a requirement of good citizenship and will assure personal liberties and safety to all Americans.
As society has become more complex, new laws have been enacted to address its complexities. Drug and alcohol abuse, racial tensions, unemployment, congested living and other 20th century conditions influence the laws we make. Laws that protect the safety of our money regulate banks. Laws are enacted to control how people treat one another and ensure our safety in worship or in speaking our opinions. The growth in transportation has spawned laws regulating the flow of traffic; the wearing of seat belts and in some states the wearing of helmets while riding motorcycles. Many people view laws as an irritant and an invasion of their rights, but if one takes the time to examine them it is easy to recognize the true intent, the safety and well being of citizens.
Our legal system is not limited to the writing of laws. It also includes a system for enforcement. Unless laws are enforced, they cannot protect us and they cannot serve as a deterrent to those wishing to cause harm. Law enforcement has many steps. First is the arrest of a suspect who has broken the law, next is the determination of guilt or innocence followed by sentencing, if one is deemed guilty.
Many people fear the legal system, while it, in itself, provides for the safety of the accused. In many cultures punishment is meted out in very primitive ways. Accused of theft someone could lose their hand. Accused of speaking against their government one could have their tongue cut out. People have been stoned, beaten to death and executed because they were accused of a crime. There may not be witnesses, there is no weighing of facts. Punishment is carried out swiftly and with no consideration to the individuals guilt or innocence. The United States of America has established a legal system which protects the rights of the victim and also provides the accused the safety of a thoughtful process of judging guilt or innocence.
Those who founded our system of government recognized the need to control the behavior of others to ensure the safety of the country. They carefully constructed a system of justice that preserved the values we hold and protected the people of this nation. Our laws do not distinguish between rich and poor, young and old, black, brown or white. They protect us all. Throughout our history, legal minds and formal bodies have gathered to assure our system of justice is in keeping with the needs of the people and the changes of society. As a result, Americans need not fear being pulled from the streets and hanged or shunned by an accusation. Our legal system works to assure our personal safety as we negotiate through the day and it also assures each person accused of a crime will be housed, fed and given a fair hearing of facts. It assures punishment will fit the crime. A child who steals a candy bar will not be sentenced to death. A person who drives 10 miles over the speed limit will not spend life in prison. But, someone who murders for the pleasure of the crime will be judged and sentenced accordingly.
The legal system established in the United States of America is not without flaw. No legal system is perfect. But our legal system works consistently to assure its own integrity, and the well being of all the people of our nation. Without our legal system we as individuals, and our nation as a whole would face a world of fear and terror.
