Transcript 2. Implementing and Enforcing Laws

Implementing and
Enforcing the Law
NCSCOS 6.03/6.05/6.07
Thomas Hobbes
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no laws = chaos
public safety is
required to keep
order
laws must be just
(fair)
enacted & enforced
without bias
Implementing Law
 Once written and approved they must be
effectively applied in society
 Regulatory Commissions
 Established by the government to oversee
certain areas
 Independent Agencies
 Established by legislative statute
 Outside the departments of the executive
branch (both federal and state)
Examples of Regulatory Commissions
and Independent Agencies
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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)
Enforcing Law
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Several agencies exist (federal/state/local
level) to enforce laws through
investigations and sometimes arrests
Each level of government has their own
jurisdiction (area of authority)
Enforcing Law (continued)
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Federal Law Enforcement
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US Department of Justice
(DOJ): responsible for
several agencies and
enforcement of many of the
nation’s federal laws (i.e. bank
robberies, drug crimes within
the US, terrorism)
Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI):
nation’s top law enforcement
agency; falls under authority
of DOJ
Enforcing Law (continued)
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Federal Law Enforcement
(continued)
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Secret Service: protects
president and other VIP;
also enforce
counterfeiting of US
money or treasury bonds
Military: protects the
nation from international
threats
Enforcing Law (continued)
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State Law Enforcement
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State Bureau of
Investigation (SBI): the
state’s top investigative
agency; equivalent of the
FBI; investigates both civil
and criminal
State Troopers: officers
of state highway patrol;
enforce and investigate
violations of state traffic
laws; also act as body
guards for certain state
officials
Enforcing Law (continued)
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State Law Enforcement (continued)
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National Guard: military force consisting of
private citizens who work civilian jobs, but
also serve the military part-time
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in times of war or emergency the president may
“nationalize” the guard or call them up for military
service
Enforcing Law (continued)
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Local Law Enforcement
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Sheriff’s Department
Sheriff (elected) and deputies (hired)
 Enforce civil and criminal laws within the county
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Police Department
Chief of Police (appointed) and officers (hired)
 Enforce civil and criminal laws within city-limits
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Law Enforcement Techniques
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911 Centers
radar gun
sobriety test
tickets/fines
taser gun
pepper spray
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undercover agent
drug raids
“Click it or Ticket”
“Move Over” Laws