Sociology & the Law

Week 4 Assignment 1

Abstract
The Overview of this paper will be about Sociology & the Law, The U.S. Court System, Areas of Sociological Study Impacted by Law, Aging & the Elderly, Marriage & Family, and Divorce. The Author Michael Erbschloe is an information technology consultant, educator and holds a Master Degree in Sociology.
The article fits into the overall field of society because it explains how our society is affected by the law that governs us all from the elderly, marriage, divorce and sexuality.
The article fits in many chapters in our textbook including: 1. Chapter 3 Cultures – The article explains the culture of law in a Democratic Nation 2. Chapter 4 Society – The article explains how our culture and society is affected by law. 3. Chapter 7 Groups and Organization – The article explains how groups and different organizations affected by law 4. Sexuality and Society – Explains how law is affected in marriages, divorces, abortions, same sex marriages.
The article was much different from newspapers and magazines because the author holds a Master degree in Sociology and supports all his writings in APA findings.

Sociology & the Law
The article I decided to write about examines the study of law and how it impacts in subareas of sociology. The article discusses law of marriage, various family issues such as divorce, marriages rights and abortion. The areas of sociology are examined by environmental sociology and public health sociology. (Erbschloe, 2010)
Societies had laws for over thousands of years from earliest civilization of the Roman Empire. Laws set the limit of the government’s responsibility and the power they have to maintain order while protecting individual rights. (Erbschloe, 2010)
One of the main functions of law is to maintain society. Democratic societies adapt and evolve based on the democratic principles. Laws in most of the industrial nation’s aspect of society and the human relationship governed by a set of laws are regulated by the government by constitutional, civil, criminal, or commercial. (Erbschloe, 2010)
Law influences behavior and regulates activities. The study of law and society dates back to Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, and Talcott Parsons. (Erbschloe, 2010)
Sociological subjects which are impacted by law include: 1. 2. Organizations 3. Industry 4. Science 5. Politics 6. Behavior 7. Groups 8. 9. Social organization 10. 11. Occupations 12. Urban environments 13. Medical 14. Marriage and Family 15. Aging 16. Crimes 17. Race

(Erbschloe, 2010)
Laws apply to all social institutions, markets, industries, groups and the lives of individuals. During past 30 years there been huge volume of legislative that creates or amends the laws. (Erbschloe, 2010)
U.S. Court System
The U.S. Court System is a factor how the justice system is administered. The Federal court system deals with Federal law. The state, county and municipal court deals with laws administered and established by those level of government. (Erbschloe, 2010)
During the past two decades specialized courts have focus on problem solving such as substance abuse, domestic violence, and family issues. These courts has a high level of collaboration with social services agencies and mental health facilities to address widespread problems in society, (Erbschloe, 2010)
Sociological Study Impacted by Law
Several areas of sociological study the impact of law and how it changes the lives of research subjects. As sociology focuses on the study of people, relationship it’s inevitable that modern law impacts these relationships. (Erbschloe, 2010)
Aging & the Elderly
The aging in society is a significant study. The aging society is greatly changed by public laws and assistance programs. The aging society drive advocacy and influence legislation and as a result federal and state level laws been amended to protect the older people in health, finance, and levels of care. (Erbschloe, 2010)
Marriage & Family
Numerous federal laws impact families however the United States Supreme Court still holds laws that cover domestic relations. The traditional view of the family structure across the races and cultures consist of husband, wife and their biological children with in the United States. The Informal arrangements of the traditional family have been recognized as common law marriages by many states. The 1900 social changes affected American families such as women’s suffrage. When rights became legally recognized the distribution of wealth also changed the economic status of women. (Erbschloe, 2010)
The law has also attempted to maintain the control over marriages. The same sex marriage movement and society controversy over the definition of marriage and family. Activists and advocates for and against same sex marriage have taken their fight to the media, town halls, courts and polling places. Those opposed has fought for traditional, and family, sexuality and social stability to maintain. (Erbschloe, 2010)
Abortions has been an issue in United States for over 50 years which has helped perspective towards sexuality, marriage, family, politics, economics, individual freedom, role of state, and religious beliefs.
Divorce
Laws can also affect how people can end their marriages through divorce. Divorce impacts couples, children, and extended families. Some people blame divorces for moral decay, social disorder, and destruction of family values. (Erbschloe, 2010)

Sociology & the Law are Nearly Inseparable Law and social life includes marriages, family and wide range of social topics that remains intertwined which holds significance for the sociological researchers. This in which makes sociology and law inseparable for sociological research (Erbschloe, 2010)

Reference
Works Cited
Erbschloe, M. (2010). Sociology & the Law. Research Starters - Sociology, EBSCOhost, pp. 1-9.

Cited: Erbschloe, M. (2010). Sociology & the Law. Research Starters - Sociology, EBSCOhost, pp. 1-9.