Forming the Foundation of Government in the Classroom, School, and Community
Session 3: The Purpose of Laws

Materials

• T-chart from the previous session: Our Rights and Responsibilities
• Chart paper, markers
• Cause and Effect chart (Attachment A: Cause and Effect), 1 per student

Instructional Activities

1. Briefly review the previous session.
   
   
2. Have students tell you the three laws they thought of in the last session, and list them on chart paper.
   
   
3. Tell students that most of these laws have existed for a long time. Ask who they think made up the laws. They may say the police, but the police only enforce the laws. Discuss that the government consists of a group of people who decide what laws citizens must follow. Remind them of the term representative democracy from the lessons on ancient Rome. U.S. citizens elect by voting for their representatives. These representatives make our laws.
   
   
4. Ask the students to think about laws against stealing and the consequences of stealing. Discuss the role of the police in helping to catch the thief. Next, ask the students what happens to the person who is caught. Explain that sometimes when laws are broken, people could be given a fine, a ticket, or go to jail. There are different consequences for breaking laws just like there are different consequences when a student breaks a school rule.
   
   
5. Distribute a Cause and Effect chart to each student. Have each of the students write down one of the laws from the class list. Have them write the law at the top of the paper, then an example of breaking that law. Have students write three possible consequences from breaking that law. Have students share their ideas with the class.
   
   
6. Conclude this session with a review and discussion of who makes the laws, who carries out the laws, and who decides if laws have been broken (essentially, the government).