This chapter provides an introduction to the core concepts of US law, for those with an HCI background but not a legal background. The chapter covers the history of U.S. law, the basic constructs of the U.S. legal system, the core sources of legal rules: constitutions, statutues, regulations, and case law, differences between civil and criminal law, the differences between law and policy at the federal versus state level, searching for and using legal resources, and how to apply basic legal principles to HCI research.

This chapter examines the growing prevalence and impact of sanctions designations on individuals, companies, and nations globally. It highlights the severe economic and personal consequences of such designations, which can lead to bankruptcy and business dissolution, often resulting in long-lasting and potentially irreparable damage. Further, the chapter critiques the process of sanctions designation as fundamentally at odds with core principles of the rule of law, particularly those central to Western legal traditions. These principles include the government’s duty to clearly articulate legal prohibitions, the necessity of providing specific accusations and supporting evidence to those penalized, the right to contest such evidence, and the availability of a meaningful appeals process. By analyzing these discrepancies, this chapter calls for a reevaluation of the sanctions framework to align it more closely with established legal norms and protections.