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Role and Functions of Law Paper
This paper will discuss the functions and role of law in business and society. It will
explain the functions and role of law in my present job within the Department of Defense (DoD)
as a civilian.
The function and role of law in business and society require an understanding of the
definition, according to Melvin (2011) “law is a body of rules of action or conduct prescribed by
controlling authority, and having legal binding force” (pg.4). This understanding of law will
come from a perspective through the inner workings of academic or business study, in the case
of society understanding falls in the interpretation of development through personal upbringing
and common knowledge. The act of laws can be shared between a family or learning perspective
when young and further information is obtained with direct interaction through legal
interpretations as numerous people follow the laws provided to him or her as a way of society or
culture. Society and business accept the laws provided area set of rules of action or conduct is
governed by a controlling authority such as local, state, and federal government set in place to
help keep order throughout daily encounters on every level. The laws set an enforceable
standard for what is right or wrong with the idea morals do not always guide people in the right
direction. According to Melvin (2011) “Modern law in the United States regulating businesses
and individuals is generally a combination of constitutional law, statutorylaw, common law, and
administrative (regulatory) law at the federal, state, and locallevels. These sources of law are
known as primary sourcesof law and may sometimeswork in conjunction with one another or
independently” (pg. 8).Constitutional law is the foundation for all other law in the United States
and is the supreme law of the land. Statutory law is created by a legislative body and approved
or disapproved by the executive branch of government. Administrative law is the source of law
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that authorizes the exercise of authority by executive branch agencies and independent
government agencies. Common law is essentially law made by courts; that is, law that has not
specifically been passed by the legislature, but rather law that is based on the fundamentals of
previous cases that had similar facts (Melvin, 2011, pg. 8, 9,10).
The expressed role and function of law in conjunction with my job follow the lines of
traveling with government commodities across intrastate line from military base to military base.
The government sector for federal employees provides a separate license to operate a motor
vehicle while on a federal installation, moving from one base to another requires a valid license
with strict state guidelines. State law requires a valid operator’s license to drive a specific
vehicle on the local, municipal, and interstate roadways adhering to the posted laws and
regulations of federal standards, depending on the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) and
classification of the license. The U.S. Department of Transportation (2013) states “The Federal
standard requires States to issue a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) to drivers according to
the following license classifications:Class A -- Any combination of vehicles with a GCWR of
26,001 or more pounds provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000
pounds.Class B -- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such
vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR.Class C -- Any single vehicle,
or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either
designed to transport 16 or more passengers” (para. 4). The act of operating a vehicle without
proper certification under the classification of the following items is a severe violation of
misdemeanor of the first degree. The penalty in Ohio is a maximum six months in jail with a
maximum $1000 dollar fine to be determined by the local judge. To operate a vehicle without
the proper license is breaking the law, and the requirements of the military installation to
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providea government base only license do not give the right to travel outside the confines of the
installation. In the event of leaving the installation, I am required by law to have proper
documentation of a valid CDL to ensure I understand and follow the guidelines the law provided.
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References
Melvin, S. P. (2011). The Legal Environments of Business: A Managerial Approach: Theory to
Practice. Retrieved from http://www.ecampus.phoenix.edu/eBook Collection database
U.S. Department of Transportation.(2013). Commercial Driver’s License Program
(CDL/CDLIS).Retrieved from
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rulesregulations/administration/fmcsr/...
