New
New
Lesson 1 of 2
  • Year 7

What is the rule of law, and how does it support a fair society?

I can explain what the rule of law is, why everyone must follow it, and how it keeps people fair and safe.

Lesson 1 of 2
New
New
  • Year 7

What is the rule of law, and how does it support a fair society?

I can explain what the rule of law is, why everyone must follow it, and how it keeps people fair and safe.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The rule of law applies to everyone, including those in power.
  2. Everyone is treated equally and fairly by the law, no matter who they are.
  3. Laws must apply equally to everyone.
  4. 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.


To help you plan your year 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...

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.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

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.

Correct Answer: laws, law

Q2.
If laws are not applied fairly, what can happen?

everyone feels valued
Correct answer: discrimination can occur
discrimination is stopped
everyone is equal

Q3.
Match each example to the reason why a rule exists.

Correct Answer:pupils must wear a school uniform,helps people know where they are from

helps people know where they are from

Correct Answer:a football match has offside rules,keeps it organised and fair for everyone

keeps it organised and fair for everyone

Correct Answer:only adults can vote in elections,ensures rules are followed by those who understand them

ensures rules are followed by those who understand them

Correct Answer:a pupil gets extra time in the exam,to allow all pupils a fair chance

to allow all pupils a fair chance

Q4.
People who live together in an ordered community are members of .

Correct Answer: society

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).

Correct answer: the Government
the Monarchy
the Civil Service

Q6.
Order the following words to complete a sentence.

1 - following
2 - rules
3 - makes
4 - everything
5 - fair

Assessment exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Why should everyone follow the law?

Correct answer: to help maintain trust in the system
it removes consequences for everyone
it benefits people in power
to allow people to ignore rule

Q2.
When laws treat people the same, it shows .

Correct Answer: equality, fairness

Q3.
Which example best shows fairness in the law?

a famous person avoids punishment for their crime
Correct answer: an employer and employee are treated equally under the law in court
a leader changes the law for themselves
a rule is only enforced for some people but not others

Q4.
Match the definition with its meaning.

Correct Answer:accountability,being responsible for one's actions and decisions

being responsible for one's actions and decisions

Correct Answer:the rule of law,all individuals are subject to the same laws and must follow them

all individuals are subject to the same laws and must follow them

Correct Answer:fair,impartial treatment; lack of favouritism to one side or the other

impartial treatment; lack of favouritism to one side or the other

Q5.
The rule of law means that no-one is the law.

Correct Answer: above, outside

Q6.
Order these words to make a law that was passed in 2012 in the UK.

1 - Legal
2 - Aid
3 - Sentencing
4 - and
5 - Punishment
6 - of
7 - Offenders Act