Year 11 - Citizenship
Why do we need laws and where do they come from?
Does our legal system protect citizens' rights?
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit builds pupils knowledge and understanding of the law and the legal system including: criminal and civil justice; the judicial process and role of citizens in justice; legal rights, sanctions; and how well prison works.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain why laws are needed and also where our laws come from.
Key Notes
- Laws ensure justice, fairness, safety and clarity, protecting rights and providing rules for society.
- Legislature creates laws through Parliament, with Bills going through stages before becoming Acts.
- The legislative process ensures laws reflect society's needs and values.
- Common law is created by judges in cases where no legislation exists, setting legal precedents.
- This allows the law to adapt to new issues quickly, without waiting for Parliament's action.
Vocabulary To Learn
- legislation: 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
- legislature: the lawmaking body of the state, i.e. Parliament in the UK
- common law: law made by the decisions of judges over the years
- precedent: a legal decision made by a judge that must be followed in future similar cases
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may think that the Prime Minister and their government make the laws in the UK, single handidly.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Laws ensure justice, fairness, safety and clarity, protecting rights and providing rules for society. Legislature creates laws through Parliament, with Bills going through stages before becoming Acts.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'legislation'
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.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Pupils may think that the Prime Minister and their government make the laws in the UK, single handidly. Correction: Although the Government have mandate to drive their manifesto intentions, laws still pass through the whole of Parliament.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 11 Citizenship guide library.