Book Opener

Adopt a PetAre you consideringadopting a pet from ananimal shelter? Don’tbe surprised if youmust choose frommany dogs or cats.Most shelters are fullor overcrowded.Government shelterstry to control overcrowdingby euthanizinganimals that aresick, dangerous, ornever adopted. Doyou think euthanizinganimals is anethical issue, a legalissue, or both?law. Courts make law in three ways: through the common law tradition,by interpreting statutes, and by judicial review.Decisions made by the highest court of any state become the lawof that state and must be followed by other courts in that state thereafter.In general, if not altered by statute, these precedents will continueto rule. It is possible, however, for the highest court of a state tochange a line of precedent.A second type of judicial decision involves interpreting statutes.When a statute seems to be confusing, incomplete, or unclear, it is thecourt’s job to figure out what the statute means. A judge cannot interpreta statute, however, unless that statute is involved in a disputebetween two parties in a lawsuit before that judge.Get InvolvedBefore you buy a petfrom a pet store,check with your localanimal shelter. Findout if your city’s animalshelters euthanizeanimals, and if yes,under what conditions.Write a report foryour class.STATUTORY LAWStatutory law is made by a legislature. The federal legislature isknown as the U.S. Congress and is made up of the House ofRepresentatives and the Senate. Statutes can order us to dosomething or forbid us to act in a certain way. What are someexamples of statutes that command or prohibit us?20 Unit 1: Knowing About the Law