Unit 2

ABOUT LAW -
The Importance of Law

SNJEŽANA HUSINEC, PHD; E-MAIL: SHUSINEC@PRAVO.HR

BASIC LEGAL TERMS
Which terms do you associate with “LAW”?

lawyer legal

illegal LAW lawmaker

lawful unlawful
BASIC LEGAL TERMS
What do we do with LAW?
pass --- enact --- lay down

impose --- enforce

break --- violate --- apply

What is meant by „LAW”?
It is against the LAW to bully.
A new LAW on financial leasing has recently been passed.
Her uncle has been practising LAW for 20 years.
She is studying LAW at he University of Zagreb.
It is not easy to understand the LAW.
The whole procedure has been conducted BY LAW.
What does LAW mean?
LAW
(a/the/Ø)

BRANCH OF LEGAL SYSTEM

LAWS OF A
KNOWLEDGE THE POLICE
COUNTRY
SUBJECT THE COURTS
(RULES)
PROFESSION JUDGES

How would you define LAW?

DEFINITIONS OF LAW
From Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary:
1. SYSTEM OF RULES
(U) (also the law) the whole system of rules that everyone in a country or society must obey
2. ONE RULE
(C) a rule that deals with a particular crime, agreement etc.
3. SUBJECT/PROFESSION
(U) the study of law as a subject at university; the profession of being a
lawyer
4. POLICE
(U) (the law) used to refer to the police and the legal system
5. OF ORGANIZATION/ACTIVITY
(C) one of the rules which controls an organization or activity
Definitions of Law – text analysis
-Answer with your partner the questions in ex. I on p. 10.

-Read part I of the text and find the two views of LAW?

-Read part II of the text and take out 4 definitions of law given in the text.
1. ……………………..
2. ……………………..
3. ……………………..
4. ……………………..
Which two basic concepts does each of them contain?
Functions of law
-Study part III of the text and take out the functions of LAW.
Summarize each function in up to 5 words.
1. ……………………..
2. ……………………..
3. ……………………..
4. ……………………..
5. ……………………..

- Study the paragraph on the purpose of law and summarize it.

LAW and MORALITY, JUSTICE AND the STATE
- Join in groups of 3 and study and summarize the paragraphs on :
Student A: Law and morality
Student B: Law and justice
Student C: Law and the State

- Join in groups and report to your colleagues.

- Read the „Summary” and take out 4 key words that are essential to the
understanding of the concept of LAW:
1. _______________ 2. ___________________ 3. __________________
4. __________________
Comprehension and Vocabulary practice
Do ex. III on p. 13.

Do vocabulary exercises IV to VII

Law and Morality
Discuss the following questions:

1. Should the law be based on morality?

2. Do we all share the same moral standards?
3. Should a law be respected even if it deviates from morality? Give your arguments.
The tale of King Rex
Explain each of the eight essential principles of law in one sentence.
1. generality = The law must be general, it must apply equally to all.
2. promulgation
3. non-retroactivity
4. clarity
5. non-contradiction
6. possibility of compliance
7. constancy
8. congruence between declared rule and official action
Eight essential principles of law:
1. generality = The law must be general, it must apply equally to all.
2. promulgation = The law has to be publicly announced.
3. non-retroactivity = A law cannot have effect from a date before it was made.
4. clarity = The law needs to be expressed clearly.
5. non-contradiction = Legal rules should not go against each other; mustn’t be contrary to each other.
6. possibility of compliance = Legal rules must be written in such a way that it is possible to follow
them/comply with them/abide by them.
7. constancy = Legal rules should not be changed too often.
Vocabulary practice I
Turn the following verbs into nouns. Find the Croatian equivalents for the nouns.

VERB NOUN TRANSLATION

1. to try
2. to convert (a sentence)
3. to prosecute
4. to commit (an offence)
5. to convict
8. to enact
9. to coerce
10. to comply with
11. to promulgate
Vocabulary practice II
Find the Croatian equivalents for the following English terms and expressions:
1. breach of law
2. enforceable by courts
3. administration of justice
4. resolve a dispute
5. contract of marriage
6. inheritance law
7. protection of property
8. violation of rights
9. to be enshrined in a constitution
10. application of rules
 Vocabulary practice - key
1. breach of law = kršenje zakona
2. enforceable by courts = koje provode sudovi
3. administration of justice = provedba pravde
4. resolve a dispute = riješiti spor
5. contract of marriage = bračni ugovor
6. inheritance law = nasljedno pravo
7. protection of property = zaštita imovine
8. violation of rights = povreda/kršenje prava
9. to be enshrined in a constitution = ugrađen u ustav
10. application of rules = primjena pravila