To Kill a Mockingbird 3 - Law

   Laws are a necessity for human society. They are very significant and powerful tools for maintaining social order and peace. Laws have evolved through the centuries and millennia to become rather sophisticated, creating different mechanisms for different situations. But there is one thing that remains the same: they tell people what they can and can’t do, as well as handing out punishments for those who violate the law.

  Laws made their first appearance during the times of the first great civilizations. Ancient Egyptian law, which was probably the most ancient official law, dated back as far as 3,000 B.C.E. It contained 12 books that recorded civil codes. By the 22^nd century B.C.E., an ancient Sumerian ruler, Ur-Nammu, created the first remaining extant law code. Around 1776 B.C.E., King Hammurabi of Babylon created the most famous legal code of ancient times, the Code of Hammurabi. It listed about 300 laws for various situations, and it was the most advanced legal system in the world at the time.

   Laws are influenced largely by many forces. The most important one is the government. We’ve heard many U.S presidents claiming in their election speeches how they will improve society. And, we do see new laws enacted and older laws modified by the suggestion of governments and influential political people. Also, governments are usually in a very strong position in most countries, such as China,and they are always the administrative components of a country. Therefore, those who create laws need to listen to government opinions because what the government says might have a profound impact on the livelihood of common people and the entire country.

Another factor that will affect law-making is the press. When you read a newspaper article or watch the news on television, you might be watching some shocking news that will impact the lawmakers. In recent years, there have been many cases of new laws being enacted because of the exposure of news from the media. For example, the banning of smoking in public places was enacted after years of efforts by pressure groups like the British Medical Association.

Moreover, public opinions are very significant as well. Law-makers can use the suggestions of the common people so that their laws can prove very effective in the long run. Furthermore, religion is an influential force. Today, most laws are not influenced by religious beliefs in a country. But in the past, law-makers were extremely obedient to what the pope or any holy scriptures said. Some of the laws forced people to publicly believe in a religion and what it proclaimed. If the pope or the Bible said that the Earth was at the center of the universe, then you could not contradict them. Many who violated laws like this suffered torture and even painful death penalties.

   Today, laws are very different from those of ancient civilizations. As humans became more sophisticated and civilizations more advanced, democracy, justice, fairness, the concept of equality, and human rights gained in importance. Comparing the Code of Hammurabi to today’s laws is a good case study. Today’s laws are generally fairer and more humane than the Code of Hammurabi. Back in Hammurabi’s time there was no such thing as human rights or the idea of giving violators a fair trial. There are significant elements of hierarchy and inequality in his codes as well. Also, the concept of a tooth for a tooth is unknown in today’s laws. Additionally, Hammurabi claimed that the accuser should bring the accused to court, which is also not true in today’s society, were courts summon you, or, if you’re a criminal, the police will bring you. Laws are getting better and better as the perception of equality and rights grows stronger in our minds with each passing generation.

   The enacting of laws is very different in today’s Switzerland, the U.S., and the PRC. In Switzerland, there is direct democracy. All the citizens can vote on issues in a referendum once they are over the age of 18. The Swiss system also requires any amendments to the constitution to be put before people a referendum. In the U.S., if you have an idea or you make up a law, you can contact your elected officials to share that idea. If they think it is appropriate, then they will write a bill. Then, the bill is introduced either by a senator or a representative. After that, the senators or the representatives will gather together and discuss the bill. They vote to accept or reject the bill, and then bring it to their house of congress for a vote. Following that, it will go to the other house. That house will debate and vote finally, if the two Houses come to an agreement they send it to the governor (if a state law) or the president (if a federal law). The executive can either choose to veto, sign, or pocket veto. In the PRC, government is in charge of enacting laws actually.  

   Laws have always been imperative to human societies. If we lose them, we can only imagine how much chaos and social upheaval will follow. Human rights and equality among us are the fundamental elements of laws. Even though there are many laws that need to be modified and changed, countries are making extensive efforts to make their laws fairer. I believe in the near future, situations will improve and maybe the most bothersome issues in the world can be fixed with the power of law, democracy, and righteousness.