Enduring Understanding

 

The student will understand:

  • There are many steps to the creation of a law.
  • The government has a check and balance system.
  • Ethics and values impact laws
  • There are several levels of the court system.
  • The constitution guides citizens’ rights and liberties.
  • Criminals have rights.
  • Crimes are classified into categories in the U.S.
  • A consumer must be educated to make wise purchases.
  • Civil and criminal cases result in different penalties.
  • Juveniles can be charged as an adult for certain crimes.
  • Consumers have rights when you make purchases.
  • Written contracts result in penalties if the contract is broken.
  • Deceptive marketing is illegal.

 

 

Essential Questions

 

  • Explain how the legal system protects each citizen.
  • When you become an adult, how is the criminal system different from the juvenile system.
  • Explain the intentional torts that most commonly effect US citizens.
  • Identify legal guidelines that are important to someone moving out from their parents.
  • How do individual rights and liberties protect citizens?

 

 

Additional Resources Needed


Technology Needs
Adobe Reader
Adobe Flash Player
Adobe Shockwave Player
Quicktime
Java
Media Player

Content Topics

 

Unit 1

Introduction to Law & Legal System

 

Unit 2

Criminal Law & Juvenile Justice

 

Unit 3

Torts

 

Unit 4

Consumer and Housing Law

 

Unit 5

Individual Rights and Liberties

 

 

Key Skills

 

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Research
  • Note taking
  • Focused Paper
  • Essay writing
  • Cooperative Learning
  • Communication
  • Organization
  • Presentation
  • Problem solving

       

       

Assessments

 

  • Written Test & Quizzes
  • Writing – Essays
  • Positional Paper
  • Projects
  • Presentation

 

 

Standards Alignment:

 

PA State Standards:

Principles and Documents of Government
a. Evaluate the major arguments advanced for the necessity of government.
b. Analyze the sources, purposes and functions of law.
c. Evaluate the importance of the principles and ideals of civic life.

How Government Works
a. Analyze and evaluate the structure, organization and operation of the local, state, and national governments including domestic and national policy-making.
b. Analyze the responsibilities and powers of the national government.
c. Evaluate the process of how a bill becomes the law on a federal, state, and local levels.
d. Evaluate how independent government agencies create, amend and enforce regulations.
e. Compare the responsibilities and powers of the three branches within the national government.

 

National Standards:
Basics of the Law
a. Analyze the relationship between ethics and the law and describe sources of the law, the structure of the court system, different classifications of procedural law, and different classifications of substantive law.
Contract Law, Law of Sales, and Consumer Law
a. Analyze the relationships between contract law, law of sales, and consumer law
Property Law
a. Achievement Standard: Explain the legal rules that apply to personal property and real property.