Research a situation from the last decade which, in your opinion, exemplifies the impact of social change on laws. Identify and briefly describe this situation. After describing the situation, please answer the following:
- In what ways does this situation exemplify how social change can affect law (law as a dependent variable)?
- In what ways does this situation exemplify how legal change can affect some aspect of society (law as an independent variable)?
Read the following examples and answer the questions posed for each example:
Example #1: Suppose within five years, same-sex marriage is legalized in a majority of states. As a result of the passing of these laws, the number of same-sex marriages increases.
- Is this result a direct or indirect effect of the legal change? Explain.
- What are the impacts of the law in this example?
Example #2: Suppose within five years, same-sex marriages are legalized in a majority of states and the number of same-sex marriages increases dramatically. As a result, society's views towards same-sex marriage shifts and more people become supportive of these marriages.
- Is this result a direct or indirect effect of the legal change? Explain.
- What are the impacts of the law in this example?