social studies chapter 2

legal standards

these are rules of conduct that the government has laid down in statutory laws and regulations

public law

governs the relationship betweens private citizens and public authorities (the government)

criminal law

determines what behaviour is subject to punishment

private law or civil law

regulates how private entities interact with eachother. Nor just real living, individual people, but also an association or a company —> legal entities. It is how to establish an association or club. Also marriage, divorce and inheritance. It is about rights and obligations.

legal entities

rechtspersonen

sense of justice

how pribate citizens understand the concepts of right and wrong

rule of law

a legal system in which fundamental rights protect individuals from abuses of power and arbitrary violations

law enforcement

the state must ensure that we obey the law

monopoly on violence

to carry out its enforcement task, the government has more power than we do, and also has the sole right to use force

authoritarian state/ dictatorship

a single person or a small group of people in power, they decide the rules. Because they have the power to eliminate political opponents without trial and to deny rights and freedoms to people

constitution

most important document in our country. It defines the fundamental rights of the inhabitants and how the state is organised

fundamental rights/ human rights

basic rights you need to live a life of basic human dignity. Because these rights should be guaranteed for every person all over the world,, they are also referred to as human rights

classic fundamental rights

the right to equal treatment, freedom of religion, freedom of expression and the right to bodily integrity. These rights must be guaranteed by the government. You van go to court to insist that these rights are respected.

fundamental social rights

right to work, health care and housing. The government cannot guarantee tese rights, but it must make an effort to ensure that they are provided.

trias politica

means that no single person or body has absolute political power, to prevent abuse of power and injustice

legislative branch

makes the laws that citizens and government must follow

executive branch

handles implementation of laws that have been approved

judicial branch

makes desicions in conflicts and assesses whether someone has broken the law

checks and balances

if a minister makes dramatic changes in a short time they will have to answer critical questions from the parliament

challenge

wraking

principle of legality

the government is only allowed to restrict the freedoms of citizens if those restrictions have already been laid down in laws

legal basis

legal certainty, everything the government does has to have a legal basis