Does the government intentionally word laws so that average Americans cannot fully understand them?

Question

I am not an uneducated or unintelligent person, but I just cannot figure out what most of these laws are talking about.

Answer 1

The laws are worded to try to cover all the bases. When they're bogus/fishy they're worded so that you cannot understand them. Lots of laws are made so that the government can get some extra money fished in their pocket undercover. You word a law, something in the effort like..to aid troops in iraq...throw in a 200% raise to congress..and a billion to defense spending (where congressmen/women are shareholders) and things are all good. Get it passed and the american people think..oh good...at least the troops have more money to aid this war...what you didn't notice was the raise and profits... thats why it is the way it is...

Answer 2

yes it's pretty much the definition of politics

Answer 3

Oh yeah.  Another good trick is when doing polls, the government or institution will use double negatives or phrase a question in a way to get the answer they want you to say.  

Examples,

Do you agree with war?  Of course noone wants war, but some wars are necessary, but by asking this, the pollster can get you to say your against the Iraqi War.

Answer 4

It wouldn't matter if the statutes were written more clearly.  The USA employs the "common law" system, which subjects the statutory laws to the interpretation of the courts.  So the law itself is meaningless if you don't know what a random judge said 30 years ago to interpret it.  What a silly way of creating what Americans laughably call "law."  How are people supposed to obey it when no one can understand what it is they're meant to obey?

In most of the rest of the world, the statutes are much less voluminous and easier to read.  The Swedish code of judicial procedure, for instance, is one small book.  Ditto the Italian criminal code.  And as a bonus, without having to worry about "case law," you can actually understand to some degree what the law expects of the people.

Answer 5

Try a government contract on any level I use to do work for government good God it's unbelievable It reminds one of a book reviewers article Wanted to be a writer so he/she well impress you with words you have never see in your life Same with government employees

Answer 6

Of course. They don't want a well informed public capable of thinking for themselves and stopping their agenda whatever it may be.

Answer 7

Yes and No. It would seem that yes they are difficult on purpose, because if they were easy to read and interpret then the judiciary and the legal profession would be much much smaller. However, on the other hand, they don't always intentionally word them in difficult ways. I am a law student and we have been given assignments that require us to draft laws (just for practice). It is extremely difficult because you don't want the laws to be overinclusive (include those people that aren't intended to be targeted by the law) or underinclusvie (leave out some people meant to be targeted by the laws). Hence, laws become long and complicated with legal terms that have important meanings, but which the average person cannot understand.

Answer 8

If the law doesn't define it's purpose completely and accurately, then it will be abused and misinterpreted.