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idRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="00657848"><w:r><w:t>Routinely there are thousands
of new laws created, each is unique and has its //raison dtre//, but we can make
generalizations on how they are formed.</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848"
w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="00657848"/><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRPr
="00484153" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="00657848"><w:pPr><w:rPr><w:b/><w:
bCs/></w:rPr></w:pPr><w:r w:rsidRPr="00484153"><w:rPr><w:b/><w:bCs/></w:rPr><w:t
>Perspectives on Lawmaking</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRDefau
lt="00657848" w:rsidP="00657848"><w:r><w:t>The Rationalistic Model</w:t></w:r></
w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="00657848"><w:r><w
:t>The rationalistic model(perspective) suggests that laws are created as ration
al means of protecting the members of society from social harm. It is the most a
ccepted but also the most unsophisticated theory of lawmaking. One of the princi
pal difficulties is that it is the lawmakers and powerful interest groups who de
fine what can be harmful to the public welfare.</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="0
0657848" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="00657848"/><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w
:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="00657848"><w:r><w:t>The Functionalist View</w:
t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="0065784
8"><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve">The functionalist view is concerned mainly wit
h how laws emerge. </w:t></w:r><w:proofErr w:type="spellStart"/><w:r><w:t>Bohann
an</w:t></w:r><w:proofErr w:type="spellEnd"/><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve"> arg
ues that laws are a special kind of re-institutionalized custom. From this view, l
aws are passed because they represent the voice of the people; they are a crysta
llization of customs. It suggests that the failure in other institutional norms
encourages the re-institutionalization of the norms by the legal institution.</w
:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="006578
00657848" w:rsidP="00657848"><w:pPr><w:rPr><w:i/><w:iCs/></w:rPr></w:pPr><w:r w:
rsidRPr="00484153"><w:rPr><w:i/><w:iCs/></w:rPr><w:t>Lawmaking by Precedents</w:
t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="0065784
8"><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve">Judicial formulation of rules is based frequen
tly on the principle that judges should build on the precedents established by p
ast decisions, known as the doctrine of state </w:t></w:r><w:proofErr w:type="sp
ellStart"/><w:r><w:t>decisis</w:t></w:r><w:proofErr w:type="spellEnd"/><w:r><w:t
xml:space="preserve"> (stand by what has been decided), which is both expeditious
and deeply rooted common-law tradition. By contrast, civil law countries, such
as France and Germany, have codified legal system where the basic law is stated
in codes. In common-law countries judges base their decisions on case law, a bod
y of opinion developed by judges over time in the course of deciding particular
cases. It conforms the belief that like wrongs deserve like remedies and equal just
ice under the law. To make a decision or cases which have no precedents judges s
earch through law cases of similar cases that seem applicable. Through the selec
tion of appropriate and desirable analogies judges make law in such instances.</
w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="00657
848"/><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRPr="00484153" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:r
sidP="00657848"><w:pPr><w:rPr><w:i/><w:iCs/></w:rPr></w:pPr><w:r w:rsidRPr="0048
4153"><w:rPr><w:i/><w:iCs/></w:rPr><w:t>The Interpretation of Statutes</w:t></w:
r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="00657848"><w:
r><w:t xml:space="preserve">In interpreting statutes, judges determine the effec
ts of legislative decisions. For many, a legislative decree is not a law until e
nforced and interpreted by the courts. In the vast majority of cases involving t
he application of statutes, the courts have no trouble determining how to apply
the statute. In some cases, however, the intent of a legislature is ambiguous; s
ome statutes contain unintentional errors and ambiguities because of bad draftin
g of the law. An important reason for the lack of clarity in many instances is t
hat the proponents have not been able to foresee and provide for all future situ
ations, which provides the courts with the opportunity of lawmaking. </w:t></w:r
></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRPr="00484153" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:
rsidP="00657848"><w:pPr><w:rPr><w:i/><w:iCs/></w:rPr></w:pPr><w:r w:rsidRPr="004
84153"><w:rPr><w:i/><w:iCs/></w:rPr><w:t>The Interpretation of Constitutions</w:
t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="0065784
8"><w:r><w:t>In addition to the US congress that plays a major role in constitut
ional interpretation, the courts are regularly called upon to interpret the Cons
titution. Every controversial statute and a variety of controversial executive a
ctions are challenged in the courts on grounds of unconstitutionality. The oppor
tunities to interpret constitutional provisions arise more often in federal than
in state courts because the national Constitution is considered a more ambiguou
s in many of its key provisions. State constitutions are much more detailed docu
ments and leave much less room or judicial interpretations. When deciding on the
constitutionality of a government action, the courts have to decide what meanin
g they wish to give to the constitution and which social objectives to pursue.</
w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRPr="00484153" w:rsidRDefault="006
57848" w:rsidP="00657848"><w:pPr><w:rPr><w:b/><w:bCs/></w:rPr></w:pPr><w:r w:rsi
dRPr="00484153"><w:rPr><w:b/><w:bCs/></w:rPr><w:t>Influences on The Lawmaking Pr
ocess</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP
="00657848"><w:r><w:t>Lawmaking is a complex and continuous process, and it exis
ts as a response to a number of social influences that operate in society which
cannot always be precisely determined, measured, or evaluated.</w:t></w:r></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRPr="00484153" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="
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<w:rPr><w:i/><w:iCs/></w:rPr><w:t>Interest Groups</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR=
"00657848" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="00657848"><w:r><w:t>The interest-g
roup thesis contends that laws are created because of the special interest of ce
rtain groups in the population. Law governing the use of alcohol, regulations co
ncerning sexual conduct, abortion bills, pure food and drug legislation, are all
documented instances of interest group activity. The nature of the interaction
between interest groups and lawmaking varies to an extent based on the branch of
the government. To reach the courts, a lawyer must be hired, formal proceedings
must be followed, and grievances must be expressed in legal terminology. To inf
luence the legislators, a group must be economically powerful or able to mobiliz
e a large number of voters. The principal techniques used by IG to influence cou
rts are: to bring conflicts to a courts attention by initiating test cases, to br
ing added info to the courts through amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs,
ant to communicate with judges indirectly by placing info favorable to the grou
ps cause in legal and general periodicals. Interaction between interest groups an
d legislative and administrative lawmakers are more overtly political in nature.
</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="006
57848"><w:r><w:t>A number of specific conditions can be identified the increase
the chances of influence. If there is only one perspective the chances to succee
d are higher than if there is an opposition. If the group decreases their disagr
eements, if they are very unified the chances of success increase. Same if the k
ey members of legislative bodies believe in the IGs position. Another factor is t
he visibility of the issue; if it is low (</w:t></w:r><w:proofErr w:type="spellS
tart"/><w:r><w:t>eg</w:t></w:r><w:proofErr w:type="spellEnd"/><w:r><w:t xml:spac
e="preserve"> they seek for a single amendment rather than entire pieces of legi
slation) the chances of succeeding increase, vice versa if the issue tends to at
tract the attention of the public chances tend to diminish. And interest groups
that support status quo have an advantage over groups trying to bring change.</w
:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="006578
48"><w:r><w:t>In general, the effectiveness of IGs to influence lawmaking is rel
ated to such considerations as their financial and information resources, offens
ive or defensive positions, and the status of the group in the eye of the lawmak
ers.</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRPr="00484153" w:rsidRDefaul
t="00657848" w:rsidP="00657848"><w:pPr><w:rPr><w:i/><w:iCs/></w:rPr></w:pPr><w:r
w:rsidRPr="00484153"><w:rPr><w:i/><w:iCs/></w:rPr><w:t>Public Opinion</w:t></w:
r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="00657848"><w:
r><w:t>As a society becomes larger, more complex, and heterogeneous there is a l
ess direct correspondence between public opinion and law. The public opinion that
affects the law is like the economic power which makes the market. This is so in
2 essential regards: SOME people take enough interest in any particular commodi
ty to make their weight felt; second, there are some people who have more power
and wealth than others. At one end of the spectrum stand such figures as preside
nt of US; at the other, migrant laborers, babies, etc. lawmakers are aware that
some people are more equal than others because of money, talent, or choice. 100
wealthy, powerful constituents of an issue outweigh thousands of poor, weak cons
tituents, mildly in favor of it. These are known as the silent majority- the peopl
e that do not threaten, or write letters. Paradoxically this group matters only
when it breaks its silence. And there is another group of people which do not kn
ow a lot or do not care about the issue, leading lawmakers to be influenced by a
minority.</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:
rsidP="00657848"><w:r><w:t>Despite these, there are three types of influences on
the lawmaking process: direct, group, and indirect influences. Direct influence
s refer to constituent pressures that offer rewards or sanctions to lawmakers, l
ike votes on election or reelection campaign, financial assistance, and other fo
rms of pressure. Group influences are such are political parties and citizen act
ions which continually influence the lawmaking process. Public opinion in these
groups is represented by organization leaders. In the indirect influence the law
maker acts as an instructed delegate. The decisions made are on behalf of the desi
res of a particular constituency (</w:t></w:r><w:proofErr w:type="spellStart"/><
w:r><w:t>eg</w:t></w:r><w:proofErr w:type="spellEnd"/><w:r><w:t>, citizens livin
g near an airport which wants to expand its facilities.)</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w
:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="00657848"><w:r><w:t>Publicopinion polls seek to determine the aggregate view people hold in a community on
current important issues. It has been demonstrated that opinion polls clearly i
nfluence what lawmakers do, and the use of them is encouraged.</w:t></w:r></w:p>
<w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRPr="00484153" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="
00657848"><w:pPr><w:rPr><w:i/><w:iCs/></w:rPr></w:pPr><w:r w:rsidRPr="00484153">
e novel The jungle by Upton Sinclair, where he writes about the quality of food in
the 20th century has provided an impetus for the passage </w:t></w:r><w:proofEr
r w:type="spellStart"/><w:r><w:t>o</w:t></w:r><w:proofErr w:type="spellEnd"/><w:
r><w:t xml:space="preserve"> the Pure Food and Meat Inspection Law in 1906 (pg.1
86). Another example is the book Unsafe at any Speed where the author shows the un
concern of vehicle manufacturers for safety, thus initiating a law on the issue.
</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRPr="00484153" w:rsidRDefault="0
0657848" w:rsidP="00657848"><w:pPr><w:rPr><w:i/><w:iCs/></w:rPr></w:pPr><w:r w:r
sidRPr="00484153"><w:rPr><w:i/><w:iCs/></w:rPr><w:t>Protest Activity</w:t></w:r>
</w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="00657848"><w:r>
<w:t>It involves demonstrations, sit-ins, strikes, boycotts, and more recently v
arious forms of electronic civil disobedience or </w:t></w:r><w:proofErr w:type="
spellStart"/><w:r><w:t>hacktivism</w:t></w:r><w:proofErr w:type="spellEnd"/><w:r
><w:t> that dramatically emphasize, often with the help of the media, a groups gri
evances or objectives. Often these strategies are used from those who are unable
or unwilling to engage in more conventional lawmaking, or who regard it useless
.</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRPr="00484153" w:rsidRDefault="
00657848" w:rsidP="00657848"><w:pPr><w:rPr><w:i/><w:iCs/></w:rPr></w:pPr><w:r w:
rsidRPr="00484153"><w:rPr><w:i/><w:iCs/></w:rPr><w:t>Social Movements</w:t></w:r
></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="00657848"><w:r
><w:t>A social movement is a type of collective behavior whereby a group of indi
viduals organize to promote certain changes or alternations in certain types of
behavior or procedures. Invariably, the movement has specified stated objectives
, a hierarchical organizational structure, and a well-conceptualized and precise
change-oriented ideology. An example is legalization of abortion. It should be
pointed out that not all movements are successful in bringing about changes thro
ugh law. Those who have financial assets to support their effort to raise the pu
blic awareness have advantage over the others.</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00
657848" w:rsidRPr="00484153" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="00657848"><w:pPr
><w:rPr><w:i/><w:iCs/></w:rPr></w:pPr><w:r w:rsidRPr="00484153"><w:rPr><w:i/><w:
iCs/></w:rPr><w:t>Public-Interest Groups</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848
" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="00657848"><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve">La
wmakers are fully cognizant of the fact that private interests are much better r
epresented than public interests. There are hundreds of organizations that prese
nt private interests on a full or part time basis. But the number of groups that
claim to represent public interests is quite small. These groups have been inst
rumental in the initiation </w:t></w:r><w:proofErr w:type="spellStart"/><w:r><w:
t>o</w:t></w:r><w:proofErr w:type="spellEnd"/><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve"> a
series of changes in the law designed to benefit and protect the public.</w:t></
w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="00657848" w:rsidRPr="00484153" w:rsidRDefault="00657848"
w:rsidP="00657848"><w:pPr><w:rPr><w:i/><w:iCs/></w:rPr></w:pPr><w:r w:rsidRPr="
00484153"><w:rPr><w:i/><w:iCs/></w:rPr><w:t>Mass Media</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:p w:r
sidR="00657848" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="00657848"><w:r><w:t xml:space
="preserve">The mass media function in part as an interest group. Each component
of the mass media is a business, and like other businesses, it has a direct int
erest in various areas </w:t></w:r><w:proofErr w:type="spellStart"/><w:r><w:t>o<
/w:t></w:r><w:proofErr w:type="spellEnd"/><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve"> public
policy. It also functions as conduits for others who would shape policy. They a
re able to generate widespread awareness and concern about events and conditions
, to bring matters before public so that they become problematic issues.</w:t></
w:r></w:p><w:p w:rsidR="006D37C0" w:rsidRDefault="00657848" w:rsidP="00657848"><
w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve">An indirect way by which the mass media can furnis
h an impetus for lawmaking is through the provision of a forum for </w:t></w:r><
w:proofErr w:type="spellStart"/><w:r><w:t>citizens</w:t></w:r><w:proofErr w:type
="spellEnd"/><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve"> concerns.</w:t></w:r></w:p><w:sectP
r w:rsidR="006D37C0"><w:pgSz w:w="12240" w:h="15840"/><w:pgMar w:top="1440" w:ri
ght="1800" w:bottom="1440" w:left="1800" w:header="708" w:footer="708" w:gutter=
"0"/><w:cols w:space="708"/><w:docGrid w:linePitch="360"/></w:sectPr></w:body></
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