5.4 Adapting the Law to Social Change
Adapting the law to social change is continually necessary as populations shift, culture evolves, and circumstances alter.
5.4.1 Legislation in Response to Change
politicians like to be seen to be ‘doing something’, but new legislation is sometimes clumsy
5.4.2 Judges Establishing New Legal Precedents
social change can be accommodated within existing legislation, if it is not too prescriptive
5.4.3 Acceptability of the Law in a Changing Society
most people need to respect the law if large-scale infringement is to be avoided
5.4.4 Legislation on Morally Controversial Issues
for example: legalising abortion, assisted suicide, euthanasia, and drug-use
5.4.5 Legal Limits to Free Speech
freedom of speech is an important human right, but some limits are necessary
5.4.6 Prohibiting Ethnically Divisive Language
it is important to prohibit the stoking of ethnic tensions that could cause violence
5.4.7 The Safeguard of Human Rights Law
it can protect people’s basic dignity, freedom, and economic needs
The next chapter analyses political authority and its relationship to the population.