Reading Assignment for Section 3.1

Read the following subsection from our online textbook: Section 3.1: Sources of the Criminal Law.

What You Will Learn

In this section, you’ll learn about the development of common law and how it was adopted in the United States. You’ll explore the doctrine of stare decisis and its impact on the American legal system. Additionally, you’ll identify the various sources of law in America, understand the limits placed on criminal statutes by the U.S. Constitution, and learn about the origins and content of the Model Penal Code. Finally, you’ll compare and contrast civil law with criminal law.

Student Learning Outcomes for Section 3.1

• SLO 1: Describe the development of the common law and how it came to the United States.
• SLO 2: Describe the doctrine of stare decisis and its impact on the American legal system.
• SLO 3: Identify the various sources of law in America, and describe the nature of each.
• SLO 4: List and describe the limits placed on criminal statutes by the Constitution of the United States.
• SLO 5: Describe the origins and content of the Model Penal Code.
• SLO 6: Compare and contrast civil law with criminal law.