What Are Two Key Roles Of Laws In Our Society

What are two key roles of laws in our society? What might be the result if these laws were not in place? Explain the four primary legal sources of laws—constitutions, statutes, administrative regulations, and common laws. Compare and contrast between a public health policy and a law. Do you think that public health policy is dependent upon the laws? Why and how? These are Q&A discussion questions. Please answer in that format. Each question has a minimum of 50 words, use examples, and cite sources in APA format. -->

What Are Two Key Roles Of Laws In Our Societywhat Be the Result

Two key roles of laws in society are maintaining order and protecting individual rights. Laws establish expected behaviors, prevent chaos, and create a framework for resolving disputes, which fosters societal stability. They also safeguard fundamental freedoms, such as speech and privacy, ensuring personal security for citizens. Without these roles, society risks an increase in disorder and infringement on personal liberties, leading to chaos and potential violence (Kelsen, 2014).

Answer:

Without laws, societal order could break down, leading to anarchy where individuals act solely based on personal interests without regard for others or public safety. For example, in absence of traffic laws, accidents and injuries would likely increase, highlighting the importance of legal regulations in maintaining safety (Mashaw & Harvey, 2017). Additionally, laws serve to protect individual rights, such as property rights and freedom from discrimination, which are essential for social justice and equality. Without such protections, vulnerable populations might suffer from exploitation and unfair treatment, threatening societal cohesion (Dworkin, 2013).

Explanation of the Four Primary Legal Sources of Laws

The four primary sources of law are constitutions, statutes, administrative regulations, and common law. Constitutions are foundational legal documents establishing government structure and fundamental rights (Baase, 2014). Statutes are laws enacted by legislative bodies, such as Congress or state legislatures, addressing specific issues, like public health regulations. Administrative regulations are rules created by government agencies to implement statutes; for instance, the Food and Drug Administration sets food safety standards. Common law, also known as case law, is derived from judicial decisions that interpret statutes and regulations, shaping legal precedents over time (Merryman & Pérez-Perdomo, 2016). Each source plays a vital role in creating a comprehensive legal framework.

Comparison Between Public Health Policy and Law

Public health policy involves strategies and guidelines aimed at improving community health, such as vaccination campaigns or anti-smoking initiatives. Laws are enforceable rules established by legislative processes that mandate behavior or prohibit actions, such as mandatory immunization laws. While policies can guide practices voluntarily, laws carry legal penalties for non-compliance. For example, a public health policy might recommend hand hygiene to prevent disease, whereas a law may require healthcare workers to follow specific sanitation standards. Public health policies often depend on laws to ensure enforcement and compliance, making legal authority essential for their effectiveness (Gostin et al., 2019).

Dependence of Public Health Policy on Laws

Public health policy relies heavily on laws because policies usually set national or local health goals, but laws provide the enforceable authority to implement and sustain those policies. For instance, vaccination mandates are grounded in laws that require immunization for school admission. Without legal backing, policies would lack enforceability, diminishing their impact. Laws thus serve to translate public health goals into tangible actions, ensuring consistency and accountability across populations (Frenk et al., 2010). Moreover, legal frameworks help protect individual rights while promoting collective health interests, illustrating the interplay between policy and law.

References

• Baase, S. (2014). A guide to health law and policy. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
• Dworkin, R. (2013). Justice for hedgehogs. Harvard University Press.
• Frenk, J., Chen, L., Bhutta, Z. A., Cohen, J., Crisp, N., Evans, T., ... & Zurayk, H. (2010). Health professionals for a new century: transforming education to strengthen health systems in an interdependent world. The Lancet, 376(9756), 1923-1958.
• Gostin, L. O., Hodge Jr, J. G., & Halabi, S. (2019). Public health law. In R. G. Barros (Ed.), Global public health law (pp. 13-26). Academic Press.
• Kelsen, H. (2014). Pure theory of law. University of California Press.
• Mashaw, J. L., & Harvey, D. (2017). Administrative law and process. Foundation Press.
• Merryman, J. H., & Pérez-Perdomo, R. (2016). The civil law tradition: an introduction to the legal systems of Europe and Latin America. Stanford University Press.