When you buy something, do you bargain about the terms of sale? Is the only consumer choice to buy or not to buy? If sellers tend to treat all consumers alike, then is it possible that government can do a better job of protecting the consumer than consumers themselves can do?

Today, consumer law consists of the common law and government regulation, both of which have changed with the passing years-and will continue to change as new consumer problems arise. Yet, there are certain values underlying consumer rights and responsibilities reflected in law. If we can identify these values, we often can tell the direction the law will take.

The law places a high value on marriage and the family. That value is carried forward in defining marriage; setting conditions for the state to interfere with marriage; fixing the responsibilities of marriage and family; and detailing when a family may break up and setting ongoing responsibilities when that happens. But, there are limits to the law. For example, the religion of Luisa and Sam may require that they be married by a minister. It may also require that each make certain promises, one to the other. Whether Luisa and Sam do so, however, is a matter of conscience. The law will neither force them to have or stop them from having a religious wedding.

We are a nation of law. We have decided as an essential part of our society that we will be governed by law. What this means is the subject of this book. It is not written to make lawyers out of lay people. Rather, it is written to help make us all better, more informed citizens. Stop for a moment and imagine that when you wake up tomorrow all laws have been eliminated and all courts abolished. Think about traffic jams and accidents-if there were no traffic lights. Think about crime and punishment. How would rules be set and enforced?

To understand criminal law three balls must be juggled at the same time. This book will help you accomplish that feat: (1) You will learn something about criminal law itself, such as the elements of crime, the purposes of the criminal law, and the reasons for punishment. (2) You will understand the procedures developed for investigating crimes and arresting and convicting the wrongdoers. (3) You will learn about the system to administer criminal laws-a system that extends far beyond a single agency of government. This book will not make you an expert of criminal lay and procedure. But, it will inform you to help a s a citizen toe make decisions as to criminal justice policy that are required of all levels of government.