rules, usually made by Parliament, that are used to order the way in which a society behaves

a law or a set of laws that have been passed by Parliament; the word is also used to describe the act of making a new law

the age at which you can do something as defined by the law

What are laws?

Citizenship

How are laws made? Criminal vs civil law

Can citizens change laws?

How is the criminal justice system applied to young people?

What is the age of criminal responsibility?

Deliberative discussion: Should the age of criminal responsibility be changed?

In this unit, pupils explore what the law is and how criminal and civil laws are made. They examine what role citizens can have in changing the law and consider how the justice system should apply to young people.

What is the law and how is it changed?

the body that makes laws in the UK; it is made up of the House of Commons, House of Lords and the monarch (queen or king)

law that deals with disputes between individuals or groups

law that deals with individuals who break the law and seeks to punish an offence (because the offender has broken laws that Parliament has stated we must obey)

a person who was born in a particular country and has certain rights or has been given certain rights because of having lived there

a person who helps create, debate and decide on new laws; in the UK, lawmakers are MPs (Members of Parliament) and members of the House of Lords

the body that makes laws in the UK, it is made up of the House of Commons, House of Lords and the monarch

a formal legal institution where disputes are heard and resolved, and where justice is administered according to the law

ordinary people who hear less serious cases, or preliminary hearings from more serious cases in local courts; they work in criminal, family and youth courts to ensure justice is served

the punishment that a judge or magistrate decides someone should be given after they have been convicted of a crime

actions or behaviours that are considered morally acceptable or unacceptable based on societal values or personal beliefs

the minimum age at which a person can be legally considered responsible for a crime

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What is the law and how is it changed?

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