1. MLK believed that just laws were ones that fell in line with God’s law, or the moral law. Of course, this reflects a Christian worldview that not everyone shares, but what he meant was laws that “uplift human personality.” Laws that do not negatively affect any innocent person or group, or favor one over another, and that protect society. He believed that an unjust law is one that “degrades human personality.” It does the opposite of a just law, negatively affecting or harming innocents, and favoring one group or person over the other.

2. I believe that this distinction is important. It gives citizens rubric to use when reflecting on their countries laws, and whether or not they believe the government is just in its decisions. It keeps an important fact, that government officials are imperfect and fallible, in mind. It can effect how someone votes, but can also effect which laws they choose to follow, and how they use that to express their discontent with those laws to the government. Mass disobedience towards unjust laws can, in my opinion, affect change in policy, as it can cause politicians to reconsider.

3. A example of just laws would be those preventing and outlawing assault. Keeping citizens safe is the duty of the government and “uplifts human personality.” It helps innocent people and only negatively affects perpetrators. The fact that certain assault crimes are more punishable, such as child assault and sexual assault, is also just.

An example of an unjust laws are those that jail citizens for not being able to pay debts. In theory, those who cannot pay debts are supposed to be charge with some other way of paying off, such as community service. Jailing unjustly punishes them simply for not being financially stable enough to pay their debt. It “degrades human personality,” treating people cruelly and unfairly.