The discussion questions are below. I only require a paragraph or two and references need to be included. Discussion Assignment 1 What characteristics differentiate a criminal offense from a civil wrong? In other words, suppose state X is considering adopting a law making conduct Y a crime. What abstract characteristics should this conduct have to justify the criminalization of the behavior?? Locate information on the Lawrence v Texas, a Supreme Court case decided a few years ago. What do you think of this decision? Should the government be involved in criminalizing private morals? Do you agree with the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Constitutional issues? Why or why not? Will there be any unintended consequences from this decision? Read a news story about the homicide of Dr. George Tiller, the Wichita doctor who was killed in his own church. Should this offense be a federal crime, a state crime, or both? Should the offenders' pro life beliefs vis a vis the victim's activities be any kind of defense? Why or why not?  Discussion Assignment 2 What are the differences between proximate cause and causation in fact? Can you offer an example of a real or hypothetical case where actual cause exists, but proximate cause is lacking? Sexual offender registration is a controversial topic for discussion. There are several news stories dealing with sex offenders. What are the legal and practical problems with these laws? Who should be required to register? Should there be national uniformity? (A federal law?) View the videos in the course content this week on social host laws. What is your opinion of laws that penalize individuals who allow minors to drink on their property? Should these "parents" face punishment? Why or Why not? .

1. The discussion questions are below. I only require a paragraph
or two and references need to be included.
Discussion Assignment 1
What characteristics differentiate a criminal offense from a civil
wrong?
In other words, suppose state X is considering adopting a law
making conduct Y a crime. What abstract characteristics should
this conduct have to justify the criminalization of the
behavior??
Locate information on the Lawrence v Texas, a Supreme Court
case decided a few years ago. What do you think of this
decision? Should the government be involved in criminalizing
private morals? Do you agree with the Supreme Court's
interpretation of the Constitutional issues? Why or why not?
Will there be any unintended consequences from this decision?
Read a news story about the homicide of Dr. George Tiller, the
Wichita doctor who was killed in his own church. Should this
offense be a federal crime, a state crime, or both? Should the
offenders' pro life beliefs
vis a vis
the victim's activities be any kind of defense? Why or why
not?
Discussion Assignment 2
What are the differences between proximate cause and causation
in fact? Can you offer an example of a real or hypothetical case
where actual cause exists, but proximate cause is lacking?
Sexual offender registration is a controversial topic for
discussion. There are several news stories dealing with sex
offenders.

2. What are the legal and practical problems with these laws?
Who should be required to register?
Should there be national uniformity? (A federal law?)
View the videos in the course content this week on social host
laws.
What is your opinion of laws that penalize individuals who
allow minors to drink on their property? Should these "parents"
face punishment? Why or Why not?