S.6 Div 4 Law And Order Ms Flavia Caltec S.6

1LAWANDORDER WHATISLAW? Lawcanbedefinedasthesetofrulesandregulationsputtogethertoguideaparticular society. It’sarulebackedbythepoweroftheauthorities,whichgovernthebahaviourofthe societyinquestion. Lawisadocumentedcodeofregulationsandconductexpectedofacitizenand acceptedbysociety.Itismeanttokeeppeace,orderandstabilityinsociety. Asocietyhastoputdownwhatitbelievestobetheguidelinesofwhatmustbedoneand whatmightnotbedone. Alawcomesintobeingandalsocomesintoforcewhenitispromulgatedorismade knowntothoseitbinds.Itmustbepublishedinsuchamannerthatitcanbeknown readily,thougheachsubjectneednotbegivenpersonalnotice. AgoodexampleoflawisthecurrentconstitutionoftheRepublicofUgandawhichwas adoptedandenactedthroughtheconstituentAssemblyonthe22nddayofSeptember 1995.Howeveritwasnotuntilthe8thdayofOctober1995thatitwaspromulgatedtothe entirepeoplewhomitbinds. IntheOldTestament,theIsraelitesweregivenover600lawsatMountSinaiwhichwere bothcivilanddivine(i.e.comingdirectlyfromGod). EvenwithinthetencommandmentsofGod,therearelawswhicharemeanttostreamline man’srelationshipwithGodandalsoman’srelationshipwithfellowman. Infact,thefirstfourcommandmentsdescribewhatoughttobeman’srelationshipwith God,andthelastsixcommandmentsdescribewhatoughttobeman’srelationshipwith fellowman. 2IntheNewTestamentJesussummarizedallthelawsintotwobasiconesnamely; (i)LoveGodyourLordwithallyourheart,mindandsoul. (ii)Loveyourneighbourasyouloveyourself. TYPESOFLAWS Civillaws:Thesearelawsdealingwiththeaffairsofprivatecitizens(butnotwithcrime) inagivencountry. CustomaryLaws:Thesearelawssetbyagivencultureforexamplecustomarylaws concerninglandownership. By-laws:Thesearelawsadoptedbyasmallcommunityforitsbenefit,forexamplelaws adoptedbyL.C.Isuchaseverybodyabove18yearsshouldownapotatogarden. SupremeLaws:Thesearelawsthatgovernagivencountry,forexamplethe1995 constitutionoftheRepublicofUganda. EcclesiasticalLaws:ThesearereligiouslawsascanonlawamongtheChristiansor ShariaLawfoundinIslamiccountries. FUNCTIONSORIMPORTANCEORPURPOSEOFLAWS Lawisasolutiontowarfare,fighting,personalgrievances,andunnecessaryconflictsof revenge.Itisalegalmachineryforsettlingdisputes. Lawoutlineswhatistobedonetoawrongdoersothatwheneverhecommitsacrime, whatistobedonetohimisalreadyknown,withouthavingtodeliberateonit unnecessarily. Lawispowerfulinstrumentofcommunicatingmoralstandardsespeciallywhenitdefines 3therightsandresponsibilities,regulationsandconduct.Itbacksthemwiththreatsand punishments. Indealingwithhumanrelationsandinteractionslawupholdstherightsanddutiesof citizens.Thereisariskthatsomeonewillnotactaccordingtowhatisexpected,sosome expectationsarerecognizedbylawandtheyformthebasisoftherightsandduties. SomeoftheseareincludedinourconstitutionsbothNationalandInternational. Thelawfacilitatesco-operativeaction.Itpromotesjointeffortsbyregulatingpeople’s conduct.Businesstransactionsthroughthelawofcontractaresafeguarded. Itreinforcesmutualco-operationandestablishesanopportunitytoformpartnerships andco-operatives. Lawconferslegitimacyinthestrugglepower.Itprovideswaysandmeansoflegitimate successionbyoutliningwhohastherighttoexercisewhatkindofpowerandforhow long.Forexample,the1995constitutionofUgandastipulatesthatapresidentshallrule foratermoffiveyearseachandinonlytwosuccessiveterms. Thelawgivesthepolicerightstoarrestwrongdoers.Ithelpstoeliminatewrongdoingin societyandencouragesgoodmoralbehaviors.Besides,thelawgivesDirectorstheright tohireandfiretheiremployees. Lawprotectsagreements.Inthemodernworldthereissomuchsocialmobilitythatone cannotdependonfriendshiporkinshipties.Thereismuchinteractionbetweenstrangers sothattheyneedtobeprotectedfortheirinterests,hencethelawofcontract. Lawperformsaneducativefunctionofsensitizingthecitizens.Thisisdonethrough threatsandpunishments.Thismeansthateveryactofpunishmentisanactof educationandreform.Indoingthispeoplewillcometoknowwhatthesocietylikesand whatithates. 4Inconclusion,thebasicfunctionorpurposeoflawistoprotectthesocietyby maintainingorder,peacestabilityandharmonyinsociety.Itregulateshumanbehaviour byprovidingrulesandpenalcodesforbreakingthelaw. CAUSESOFVIOLATIONOFLAWS: Politicalinstabilityinthecountry.Theremaybepoliticalunrestinsomepartsofagiven countrywhichmakeslawimplementationnexttoimpossible.Forexample,inthe northernpartofUgandamanyinnocentpeoplehavelosttheirlivesbecauseoftheLord’s ResistanceArmyrebelactivitiesbyJosephKonysince1986. Illiteracyandignoranceofthelawbythemasses.Thiscomesaboutduetolackofcivic educationintheruralareas.Oneanonymouswriterhadthistosay;”Shewhoknowsnot, andknowsnot,thatsheknowsnot,isafool,peopleshouldshunher.” Permissiveness-Theincreasingcasesofpermissivenesswherebypeoplearegiventoo muchlibertytodowhattheywantregardlessoftheireffectsonotherpeopleisalsoa seriouscauseoftheviolationoflaws.Thisistruebecausepermissivepeopledousually rebelagainsttheestablishedorderandauthority. Themilitarizationofpoliticsandthecivilservice.Thereisinfluencepeddlingand intimidationbythearmyinsomecountries.Itisallegedthat,the2006presidential campaignsinUganda,weretoomuchmilitarizedtotheextentofremandingpresidential mainchallengerCol.Dr.KiizaBesigyeinLuziraprisononchargesoftreasonandsexual assault. Unemploymentduetoretrenchmentanddemobilization.Thewidespreadsocialproblems ofunemployment,retrenchmentofemployees,demobilizationofsoldiers,forcesthemto earnalivingthroughunlawfulways.TheNRMgovernmentcamewithapolicyof privatizationwhichledtomanycivilservantsbeingretrenchedsince1986. 5Greedforpower.Thedesirebysomegovernmentleaderstoremaininpowerforalong periodoftimeleadingtotheviolationofsomearticlesoftheconstitution.Itisalleged thatPresidentMoammarGaddafiofLibyahadtoomuchgreedforpowersincehehad ruledthecountrywithaone-partysystemfrom1969to2011. Corruptionamongthelawimplementorsespeciallytheexecutiveandthejudiciarycan alsoleadtotheviolationofthelaws.In1998,thePresidentofUgandawasforcedto instituteacommissionofinquiryintocorruptioninthepoliceforcewhichwasheadedby JusticeJuliaSsebutinde,andseveralpoliceofficersweredismissed. Misuseofdrugsandalcohol,whichaffectsthesenseofreasoningpavingwaytothe violationoflaws.Thebookofproverbsteachesthat,“Wineisreckless,astrongdrink, quarrelsome;unwiseishewhomitseduces(Prov.20:1). Theincreasinggapbetweentherichandthepoorcreatingenvytothosewhoarewelloff andleadingtoharmingthem.AcaseinpointinUgandawasduringthe1979liberation warbyUNLFwhenthepoorTanzaniansoldiersenviedtherichUgandansandstarted lootingtheirradiosandwatchessometimesharmingthem. Peergroupinfluencealsoleadstocommittingcrimes.Forinstance,somepeople becomeaddictstodrugs,engageinpre-maritalsex,gangrapingetc…………………duetothe natureofthepeergroup. IncurablediseaseslikeAIDShaveledtocrimeslikerape,defilementandprostitution, sincesomepeopledonotwanttodiealone.Besidesotherswanttoeatforthelasttime, whileothersdefilewiththedisguisethattheyoungonesareAIDSfree. EnvironmentaldeterminismSomepeoplelivinginslumareascommitcrimeslike prostitution,drugconsumptionetc.….becauseofthenatureoftheenvironmentinwhich theyareandwhichishostile.Tothemsuchcrimesseemtobenormal. 6Lackofreligiouscommitmentcoupledwithbadexamplesfromthereligiousandpolitical leadersasfarasobservanceofthelawisconcerned. Theculturalbeliefssuchastakingwomentobeinferiorandexpectedtoaccept everythingthatthemansaysleadingtodomesticviolence. THERELATIONSHIPBETWEENLAWANDMORALITY Thelawsofthestatereflectthestandardsofmoralityofthesociety.Thismeansthatthe lawsenforcemoralityofthesocietybyimposingsanctionsandthreatstothosewhotry tobreachmorality. Relativestandardsofsociety–TheStandardsofthesocietyarerelativeandtherefore liabletochange.Thismeanslawschangewheneverthestandardsofthesocietychange withtime.Forexample,thelawswhichgovernedthetraditionalAfricanSocietyarenot thesameasthosegoverningthecurrentmodernsociety. Inacountrywherethereisahomogeneousgroupofpeople(i.e.withthesamecultures, traditionsandbeliefs),forexampleFrance,lawscanbeusedtoreinforcethecountry’s moralstandardsbecausetheyareuniform. Butincountrieswhichareheterogeneous(i.e.withdiverseculturaltraditionsandbeliefs), forexampleUganda,statelawscannotbeusedtoreinforcemoralitybecauseofthe differentculturalvalues. Anothergoodexampleofahomogeneouscountrybutfromthereligiouspointofviewis SaudiArabiawhichisruledbytheSharialawofIslamwhichisthecommonreligionofall itspeople.Inthiscountry,themoralstandardsofthepeoplearehigh. Inmanysocieties,lawsdevelopfrommorals.Somemoralsareselectedtobeimperative foranyonetofollow;andsuchmoralsarebackedupbythreatsandsanctions,andthisis whentheybecomelaws. 7Theabovepointimpliesthatlawscontrolpeople’smorality;peopleareoftenforcedto behaveinadecentwaybecauseoffeartobreakthelawsandgetpunished. Boththelawandmoralityhavethemainobjectiveofpromotingorder,stability,and harmonywithinthehumansociety. Wherethereisahighdegreeofmoralityespeciallywheretherearestrongreligious attachments,theprocessofusinglawandmakingpeopletofollowitwillbeeasye.g.in SaudiArabia. Insomeareaswheretherearestrictlaws,peopletendtobeorderlyonlyaslongaswhen thepunishingagentispresentWherethepunishingagentisabsent,peoplemaydecideto misbehave.Thisisverycommonwithourchildrenathomeandevenschoolchildren. Wherethestandardofmoralityisverylowe.g.inU.S.A,theprocessofenforcingthelaw willbetightandhard.Therewillbeverymanycrimesasthelawwillfrequentlybebroken. However,itisnotenoughtoputtherelaws,thisshouldbeaccompaniedbyaneffortto educatethecitizensabouttheneedfororder,stability,anddisciplineinsociety.When thisisdone,mostpeoplewilljustdecidetobeorderlywithoutbeingforcedtodoso. InDeuteronomy3:15,weread,Ihavesetbeforeyouthisdaythedifferencebetweengood andevil,andbetweenlifeanddeath. ManwasgivenfreedombyGodtomakemoralchoices.Todayyoucannottalkofmorals whenthereisnogoodandevil.Theindividualmustbecapableofdifferentiatingbetween goodandevil. Todaythereisalsoaclashbetweenreligiouslawsandstatelaws.whataChristianmay understandtobesinfromtheteachingoftheBible,maybedeclaredlegalunderthelaws ofthestate.Forexample,abortioninBritainandU.S.Ahasbeenlegalizedandeven 8prostitutesaregivenoperatinglicenses. LAWINTHEAFRICANTRADITIONALSOCIETY UnliketodayandintheOldTestamenttimes,lawintheAfricanTraditionSocietywasnot documentedonpaperorwrittenanywhere,butitwasinscribedonpeople’shearts. Thiswasdoneinformoftaboosandsanctions.TheseweretheDo’sandtheDon’ts whichwerethecustodiansofnotonlyorderandregulations,butalsomorality. TherewasnocleardemarcationbetweenlawandmoralityintheTraditionalAfrican Society.Thetwowenthandinhand.Violatingthelawwasalmostpunishedinthesame wayasviolatingmorality. Thesocietyatlargewasthepolicemanoftheworldasfarasthelawandmoralitywere concerned. Parentswerealsoanimportantinstrumentofnotonlykeepingorderandmoralityamong theyouth,butalsoofimpartingtherequiredvalvestothenewgeneration. Incentralizedandkingdomareas,therewerecourtsinthecapitalofthekingdomsforthe administrationofthelawespeciallyforcapitaloffences.Thevillageclanmeetingswere alsousedtoadministerpunishmentsandsettlingofdisputes. Thereexisteddelegationofpower.Althoughagivecommunityhadakingwhowasthe absoluteruler,powerwasnotconcentratedinthehandsofoneperson. Thekingforexampledelegatedsomeofhispowerstothechiefs,sub-chiefs,advisors, andguardianswhohelpedhimcarryouthisorders. Evenchiefsatvariouslevelshadcourtsoflaw.Indecentralizedkingdoms,therewasa councilofeldersfortheadministrationoflawandorder. 9Thiscouncilofeldersplayedtheadvisoryroletotheking.Thecouncilofeldersand chiefsdiscussedtheissue(s)andreachedacommonagreement.Afterthis,theking wouldmakeasingledecisionandeveryonewouldfollowwithoutanyfurtherquestioning. TheauthorityofthekingsandrulesintheAfricanTraditionalsocietywasbelievetobe divinei.e.bestoweduponthembyGod. Thetraditionalleaderssawtheirrolelikethatofafatherwhohasthedutyofseeingtoit thatthechildrenarewellnurtured.Theleaderspromisedtoprotectthecommunityon conditionthatthesubjectsremainedloyaltothemthroughobedienceandrespect. Thepurposeofthecourtsoflawwasalsotomaintainandrestorepeaceamong neighboursandvillagers.,Thefinaljudgmentasalreadyseenreflectedtheopinions expressedfreelybytheelders. THEADMINISTRATIONOFJUSTICEINTHEAFRICANTRADITIONALSOCIETY Justiceisavirtuewhichleadsapersontogiveanotherpersonwhatisduetohimorher. Oritmeansbeingrightorfairandreasonableinthewaywedealwithothersandinthe wayweconductourselves. IntheAfricanTraditionalSocietylocalcourtsweresetupinthevillagestoadminister justice.Thesepassedjudgementonwrongdoerswhohadoffendedthesociety. Allunjustactswerecondemnedinsociety;andallpeoplewhocommittedunjustacts wereeithercounseledandencouragetoreconcile,orweretotallycondemnedinsociety. JusticeinATSdidnotnecessarilyimplyequaltreatmentofallthepeople.However,the communityensuredthatitmetthebasicneedsofitspeopleforhumansurvival. Severepunishmentsweregiventothewrongdoers;butthesepunishmentsvariedfrom onesocietytoanother.forexample,amongtheBakigaofsouthernUgandaifagirl 10becamepregnantbeforewedlock,shewasrolledbyherbrothersovertheclifftodrown onKisiiziFallsinRukungiri. InATS,peopleworkedtowardsthecreationofharmony,peace,andstabilityinthe administrationofjustice.Thismeanscaseswerehandledwithaviewofreconciliation. Domesticcasesofmisunderstandingsbetweenhusbandsandwivesorfamilymembers werehandledbyfamilyeldersorclanheads.Itwastherulingoftheseeldersthat determinedforexampleifawomanshouldbedivorcedornot. Justicewasalsoentrustedtothelivingdead.ItwasbelievedinATSthatwhoever disturbedthepeaceofothersande.g.forcefullytookupthepropertyoftheotherpeople, thispersonwouldnotescapethewrathoftheancestorsinthespiritworldifhe/shehad survivedthatoftheelders. JusticeinthetraditionalAfricansettingwasadministeredbyintelligentmenwhowere believedtobemenofwisdom.Indecidingonacase,theycriticallyexaminedthe circumstancesleadingtothataction. Africansobservedhumanrightsbyputtinginplacetaboosandsanctionsinorderto maintainjustice.forexample,amongtheBatooroofWesternUganda,ifoneabusedan elder,he/shewassupposedtobefloggedinpublicsoastodeterothersfromdoingthe sameandalsotoinducetheoffender(s)toreform. FineswerealsointroducedinordertosatisfythePsychologyoftheoffended.Amongthe BanyankoleofSouth–westernUgandaIfapersonwascaughtstealingachicken,hewas supposedtopay“empongamo”whichliterallymeansafine. PoliticsandReligioninATScouldnotbeseparatedsincebothwereconcernedwith maintainingjusticeinsociety. 11Incentralizedstates,rulerssuchaskingsandchiefswereregardedtobeclosertoGod andthespiritworld,andthat’swhytheywereentrustedwiththeadministrationofjustice intheinthesociety. Thetraditionalleadersviewedtheirroleasthatofthefatherwhohadthedutyofseeing toitthatthechildrenarewelllookedafter.Andinturnthechildrenhadtobeloyaland obedienttotheelders. TherewaspowersharinginATS.Althoughthecommunitymayhavehadaking,power wasnotconcentratedinthehandsofoneperson.Thekingdelegatedsomeofhispowers tothechiefs,sub-countychiefs,advisors,andguardianswhohelpedhimtocarryouthis orders. THECHRISTIANCONCEPTOFJUSTICE Justicehassomethingtodowithmakingabalancebetweenclaimingforone’srightsand fulfillingone’sdutiese.g.Employeeshavearighttodemandforajustwagewhilethe employershaveanobligationtopayajustwage. Thefoundationofjusticearetherightsofothers(commongood).Tobejustortoactina justwayistoactinharmonywiththerightsofothers.Thismeansthatjusticeinvolves thedutyofgivingandrespectingtherightsofothers. Justicehassomethingtodowiththatwhichmakesamanaman.Thisistheessenceof justicebecausejusticeisavirtueconcernedaboutlettingmanreachhisfulfillment. JusticemeansloveofGodandloveoffellowmen.However,justicegoesbeyondlove, therecannotbelovewithoutjustice,butjusticeispossiblewithoutlove.Jesustaught aboutthegreatestcommandment:”LoveyourGodwithallyourheart,mindandsoul,and loveyourneighbourasyouloveyourself(Mt22:37-39). Justiceentailsobservanceofthesociallysetandacceptedlaws,andtheenactingofjust 12lawsonthepartofthoseinauthority.St.PaulforexampleadvisesChristianstoobey stateauthorityandthelawsbecausenoauthorityexistswithoutGod’sPermission(Rom 13:1).Thisisknownaslegaljustice. Inthestoriesofcreationbyimplication(Gen1-2),Godwantsustobepeoplelivingin goodrelationshipwithhim,witheachother,andwiththerestofcreation. JusticeofaseriousChristianisseenintheworldwideeffecttoliberatetheoppressed throughoutthewholeworld.Thebookofexodusteachesusthat:“TheLordrescuedthe IsraelitesfromEgyptandbroughtthemtothelandofCanaan(Ex.3:8). AChristianshouldexercisejusticebycaringandextendingtheirmercytothe underprivileged.ThebookofActsteachesusthat:InJoppa,awomannamedTabitha (DorcusinGreek)spentmostofthetimedoinggoodandhelpingthepoor(AA9:36). Justicewithoutcharityhasitsdangers;itmaybeemployedtovindicatemercilesslyone’s rights,hencetheproverb:”Theexaggeratedjusticemayamounttoanexaggerated injustice(summuniussummainiuria).TheGospelparableoftheunforgivingservantwho himselfhadbeenforgivenbythekingisanexampleinthisregard(Mt18:23-35). Justiceisalsoconcernedwithexchangeofgoodsandservicesaccordingtothestrict equalityofvalues.Thisiswhatiscalledcommutativejustice,andsinceitisbasedon contracts,itcanalsobecalledcontractualjustice. Justiceisalsoconcernedwiththejustdistributionofhonorsandburdensinsociety (distributivejustice),Inasfarasindividualsarenotequalintheirqualificationsand resources,theburdensandhonorsmustbedistributedinproportiontotheirneeds, capabilities,andmerits. 13Justiceandpeaceareinseparableaspectsoflivingaharmoniouslife.Inordertohavea lastingandauthenticpeace,Ugandaforexamplemustupholdjusticeinallspheresoflife. Justicealsoentailsfairnessorbeingfairtoothers.Aristotleoneofthegreat philosophersdescribesfarnessas“Treatingequalsequally,andtreatingunequal’s unequally,forinstance,itwouldbeunfairandthereforeunjusttocollectthesame amountofPAYEfromtwopeoplewhosegrossincomeisnotthesame. Justicedemandsreciprocity.Thismeansthatpeopleespeciallyatindividuallevelshould give,onequalreturnforbenefitsreceived.Inotherwords,apersonshoulddotoothersin thewaytheydotohimorher. Justicealsodemandsthepunishmentofthosewhodonotobeythelawsofthelandor thosewhodepriveotherstheirrights.Itdemandsthatoffendersarepunishedandthose whoareoffendedarecompensated.Thisiscalledretributivejusticei.e.Moses’sslogan of“aneyeforaneye,atoothforatooth”(Ex21:24). Justicealsoshouldaimatgivingwhatwasdeprivedormissedinthepastinorderto correcttheimbalanceorsufferingwhichwascausedbypastmistakes (Remedial/compensatoryjustice).forexample,theBanyoroofwesternUgandaduring theBritishColonialruleinthe1950’slostverymanyvaluableresourcesandwereeven putonembargofor100yearsandsodeservecompensationbytheBritishgovernment. CHRISTIANVIEWSABOUTRESPECTFORLAWANDORDERS Christianityrecognizestheinevitableexistenceofpoliticalstructuresandauthoritywhich isallowedbeGodforthepreservationoforderinsociety. AChristianinthereforeobligedtoobeyandrespectthelawofhis/hercountry.Thisis …