Role and Functions of Law Paper

Definition of Law
According to S.P. Melvin (2011) law is defined “A generally accepted generic definition of the law is a body of rules of action or conduct prescribedby controlling authority, and having legal binding force.” So laws are there to help the group as whole decide what acceptable behavior is, give punishments when needed and help settle disputes to help create a function and productive society. We as a whole create laws to protect our family and property. Some laws are based upon the idea of the time. Such as if I was born within the early 1800 in America I would have been thought of as less of a human and even considered property as stated by the laws of the time. When the people realized what was going on and thought of it as wrong they created a new law to abolish it. So this is an example of how laws are not always for the good of the community as a whole.What the law try to provide and what is actually does are sometimes not the same thing. The function of law is to give people set rules to try and appease everyone but sometimes the laws disassociate some parts of the society such as slavery and separate but equal laws. Then there is times when laws go against each other as in the case with Cipollone v. Liggett Group, Inc. In this case “Cipollone brought suit againstLiggett for violation of several New Jersey consumerprotection statutes alleging that Liggett (and othercigarette manufacturers) were liable for his mother’sdeath because they engaged in a course of conductincluding false advertising, fraudulently misrepresentingthe hazards of smoking, and conspiracy to deprivethe public of medical and scientific information aboutsmoking. (S.P. Melvin 2011)” This case was lost by Cipollone due to the fact state law and federal law were different and federal supersede state laws. The laws create in business dealing are create to fair competition. Business laws help protect the consumers as well are the business owners. Laws are rules that are create from meaning people to help create a prospering and well functioning community.
Functions of laws in Present Job
In my current job I am TSO (Transportation Security Officer) which is a glorified screener at the MSY (New Orleans Airport). My job was create because the horrible events that occurred on September 11, 2001. My job is to check all people who come through the checkpoint and all baggage that is going on the planes. When my job was create a lot of new laws were put in place to protect the flying public such as you can get on the checkpoints without a boarding pass or gate pass and you cannot bring some item like scissors or small knives. As the threat to the public changed so did the restrictions. Now no liquids larger than 3.4 oz. are allow into the screening area by the flying public. This rule was put into place due the threat of terrorist’s plan to use liquid explosives. When my job introduced the new pat down procedures a lot of people were saying it was against state laws to do our jobs but since our agency is the federal government we were protected from lawsuits and criminal complaints. My job is to enforce the rules that are put in place by the top government employees. The rules that I use are can sometimes come with heavy fines from the government, such as gun on the checkpoint. When a passenger bring a gun onto the checkpoint they are not just in trouble locally but also federally. The federal government fine people who break the rule and sometimes the person is arrested on local charges depending upon the states laws. Sometimes in my job state and federal laws are on the same page and sometimes they are not. With every threat that is discovered my job reacts and create laws/rule to help protect the nations flying public.

Conclusion In everything we do there are laws set in place to protect us from people who wish to use harm whether it is physically or financial. Laws are there to help try and right a wrong and give some sort of results that can sometimes make all parts whole. Some laws are just meant to punish the wrong doers and give their victims some justice. Not all laws are created equally or fairly. The function and roles of laws are to create a happy, healthy society for the citizens.

Reference
Melvin, S. P. (2011). The legal environment of business: A managerial approach: Theory to \
Practice. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

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