What is the rule of law, and how does it support a fair society?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what the rule of law is, why everyone must follow it, and how it keeps people fair and safe.
Key learning points
- The rule of law applies to everyone, including those in power.
- Everyone is treated equally and fairly by the law, no matter who they are.
- Laws must apply equally to everyone.
- Following laws helps prevent problems and build people's trust in the system.
Keywords
Rule of law - the principle that all individuals within a state, including government and leaders, are subject to the same laws and must follow them
Fair - impartial treatment; lack of favouritism to one side or the other
Equality - the right of everyone to receive the same treatment
Accountability - being responsible for one's actions and decisions, and being required to explain or justify them to others, including those in positions of power or authority
Common misconception
The law only matters for some people, or only for those who break it.
Use real-life examples, such as school rules vs. national laws, or news stories in which leaders were held accountable, to show the law in action.
Teacher tip
Get pupils to decide what is fair before introducing the rule of law, then revisit their answers to show how equality, accountability, and consistent rules shape their thinking. This helps pupils see the law as something that affects their everyday lives, not just courts or criminals.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Fill in the blank: are rules, usually made by parliament, that are used to order the way in which a society behaves.
Q2.If laws are not applied fairly, what can happen?
Q3.Match each example to the reason why a rule exists.
Q4.People who live together in an ordered community are members of .
Q5.What is this referring to? The group of people with the authority to govern a country. In the UK, it is led by the Prime Minister (PM).
Q6.Order the following words to complete a sentence.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Why should everyone follow the law?
Q2.When laws treat people the same, it shows .
Q3.Which example best shows fairness in the law?
Q4.Match the definition with its meaning.
Q5.The rule of law means that no-one is the law.
Q6.Order these words to make a law that was passed in 2012 in the UK.
To help you plan your 7 citizenship lesson on: What is the rule of law, and how does it support a fair society?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 citizenship lesson on: What is the rule of law, and how does it support a fair society?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 citizenship lessons from the How does the rule of law contribute to fairness? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.