Assignment 2: Origins of Law 10% This assignment relates to the following

Assignment 2: Origins of Law 10%

This assignment relates to the following Course Learning Requirements:

CLR # 2: Distinguish the role and function of governments in Canada at the federal, provincial and municipal levels.

CLR # 3: Demonstrate where and how laws originate and how they are implemented.

Objective of this Assignment: To research and provide information on the content and background of laws.

Instructions:

Answer all three of the following questions for each of the laws that you choose.

Choose any three of the following list of laws. You should also be aware of the others.

• Sandy’s Law

• Christopher’s Law

• Sabrina’s Law

• Rowan’s Law

• Anastasia’s Law

• The Good Samaritan Act

• Zachary’s Bill

• Jordan’s Principle

1. What particular event(s) or incident(s) occurred that initiated the introduction of the law?

(Include an explanation of why it was given a “personalized” name if it applies.)

2. In your own words, explain the objective of the law and how it will be implemented.

3. Which level of government is responsible for this subject area or activity and therefore passed the law?

Your answers should be printed, double spaced in 12 point format.

Don’t forget your cover page and references to show where you found your answers!

Please do this work on your own. Plagiarism is the copying or reference to someone else’s work without proper acknowledgement. Cases of plagiarism will be dealt with severely. Although you will find written material about your chosen organization through the Internet or brochures and other written material, you MUST NOT cut and paste it. You must acknowledge your sources clearly indicating the source and date in appropriate reference form. Ask your English teacher for assistance or go to the Internet sources for guidelines.

In Lesson 10 we look at Public Policy-why and how it is developed and implemented. Assignment 2 provides you with a list of 8 different laws. Choose any 3.  Answers the 3 questions listed in the attached file.  Note the marking scheme for the assignment as well as the deadline.

There are hundreds if not thousands of laws in Ontario and Canada. Where did they come from? Most were introduced by the Government of the time- whether federal or provincial. Others have been introduced by a private member of the legislature. In both cases, they had enough support by other elected representatives in the legislature to get the law passed. Some laws are out of date and have never been revoked. Others have been amended over time.

Usually the reason why a law was passed seems fairly obvious. Laws related to speeding or crime are quite clear. Sometimes, however, it is a result of special circumstances or unforeseeable events. For example, changes to security at airports and the Anti-Terrorism Act were a result of incidents or threats related to terrorism after the bombings of 9/11 (Sept. 11, 2001).

The federal gun registry became law after an intense lobbying effort across Canada, particularly by women and families of the 14 young women who were gunned down by Marc Lepine at the École polytechnique in Montreal in 1989. There had been a lot of debate before that incident, but it was the “final straw” that persuaded parliamentarians to pass the law. Laws against street car racing

Another example is the recent changes to the Criminal Code related to Street Racing. An MP from

B.C. (Chuck Cadman) made it his passion to get changes made because his son had died as a result of a street racing incident. Although the MP died of cancer before it was passed, he inspired others to unite to have the law changed.

In April 2008 an Ontario MPP introduced a Private Member’s Bill to be considered by legislators at Queen’s Park that is being dubbed “the Apology Act”. It would allow everyone – including doctors, nurses and police – to apologize for actions taken without worrying about having their statements being used against them in civil court. In other words, they could apologize for an action without being held responsible and being sued. Several other provinces have passed such laws

For this assignment you will be exploring the content and background of some laws with interesting names. You will have to do some Web research to find the answers (Google works well!).

Marking Rubric: Origins of Law (10%):

Criteria

Excellent

80-100%

Good

50-79%

Requires Improvement

<50%

Points

Assignment Quality

All information offered is accurate

All views are clearly expressed and well explained

Contains original ideas, connections or applications

Most information offered is accurate

Most views are clearly expressed and explained

Contains mainly original ideas, connections or applications

Some or no accurate information offered

Views are rarely or never clear and require further explanation

Many non- original ideas, or unclear connections or applications

/4

Comments

Assignment Knowledge and Skills Demonstration

Clear, concise synthesis of course content to demonstrate understanding of topic

All ideas are clearly developed, organized logically, and connected with effective transitions

Explores ideas, supports points fully using a balance of evidence, Uses effective reasoning to make useful distinctions

All relevant course and topic links are made

Evidence of some synthesis of course content to demonstrate understanding of topic

Some unified and coherent ideas are developed with effective transitions

Supports most ideas with effective examples, and/or references, and details, makes key distinctions

Most relevant course and topic links are made

Lack of evidence or weakness in the synthesis of course content to demonstrate understanding of topic

Develops and organizes ideas that are not necessarily connected. Some ideas seem illogical and/or unrelated

Presents ideas in general terms, Most ideas are inconsistent/unsupported, and reasoning is flawed or unclear

Some or no relevant course and topic links are made

/4

Comments

Assignment Structure

Formatted as per assignment details

Structure and format enhances delivery of the information

Clear language is used which leads to easy readability

Correct grammar and spelling is consistently used

Formatted as per assignment details in most components

Structure and format fits well with the delivery of the information

Mostly clear language is used with minor readability issues

Few or no spelling and/or grammatical errors

Formatting has not been followed

Structure and format is unclear and impedes delivery of the information

Language used is often unclear which impedes readability

Many spelling and grammatical errors

/2

Comments

Total Points

/10

1

1