Chapter 3. The American Legal System

FOR OVER TWO DECADES, the shows in the Law and Order franchise have been popular with television viewers. Each episode transports viewers into the world of American criminal law and process; from the dramatic opening theme song with its scene changing "clang" sound, to the final scene when justice is served. A crime, investigation, and judicial process are neatly wrapped in a one-hour episode. Law and Order episodes focus on criminal law, which is one aspect of the American legal system.

This chapter briefly reviews the American legal system. It's important for Americans to have a general understanding of this system. It affects us every day. We are bound by a system of laws that regulate our behavior and contribute ...

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