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LAW
What Is Law?
Laws are usually created by governments and in the UK some laws are created by judges in court. The law created by government is called legislation (some people use the word statute instead of saying legislation this is ok) and the law made by judges is called case-law (another word for this is common law).
These rules are known as laws and breaking them can have more serious consequences, such as going to jail or paying a fine.
For example, you probably realise that there are lots of laws for drivers. Drivers can't drive as fast as they want because there are speed limits, and drivers can't park wherever they want as there may be parking restrictions. Drivers certainly can't drive on the wrong side of the road!
When a person breaks a law, they may go to court and be charged with a crime and if found guilty may end up in jail. But some laws are civil not criminal such as laws to do with making a contract, or laws to do with family matters such as divorce. Often, when a person breaks a civil law they may have to pay a fine, or the court may force them to do something such as moving out of their home but they will not go to jail.
Laws Are Just Rules...Right?
Yes and no!
While both laws and rules have consequences and most people agree that society depends on rules and laws to function properly, there are differences.
Rules are about standards of behaviour. For example when you want to ask something in class, the likelihood is that you politely
raise your hand first, it's probably because your teacher has a rule about what you're supposed to do when you have a question. Can you imagine what it would be like if everyone could simply talk whenever they wanted during class? We have rules in the school corridor (not running is the one that comes to mind) and rules when we play games (the rules of the game). There are 'unspoken' rules too, such as wait your turn. For example, it would be very rude indeed, if you have queued up for 10 minutes at the bus stop and I have arrived after you but when the bus comes I board the bus in front of you!
Although all of the scenarios I have given involve rules, I won't go to prison or face I fine if I break them although I would be very unpopular :(
On the other hand, if I break a law, I might face prison, a fine or both!
Laws are legal rules whereas rules are non-legal rules.
Laws Affect Kids Not Just Adults!
In the UK generally, a child is someone under 18. Once they turn 18, they are classed as an adult by the law (in Scotland this is sometimes 16, depending on the situation).
The law calls children minors. In the law of contract, for almost 50 years the age when a person is classed a capable of entering a contract is 18. 18 is known as attaining 'majority. There are some exceptions...
YET... In criminal law a child becomes criminally responsible for their actions once they turn 10! This is because under 10, a child is seen as incapable of having the mindset (mens rea) to commit a crime even if they do the act (actus reus). This is called doli incapax meaning children under a certain age (10 in the UK but it's different in other countries) are thought to beincapable of criminal intentions and cannot be convicted of a criminal offence (unless it can be proven that they fully realised what they were doing was wrong)..
I turned double digits a few days ago :(
Law Words (Terminology)
Equality
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Equality
Equality is not always about treating everyone the same – it is about treating people in such a way that each person can have the same chances. This means putting things in place to support people to achieve similar results. For a person who is blind it may involve having screen readers on computers and for someone who uses a wheelchair it might mean putting a ramp outside your building rather than steps. These are called "reasonable adjustments" in English law.
Justice
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Equality
Treating everyone fairly using rules and laws. For example, if your school has a no chewing gum policy it would not be just to allow some children to chew gum. Or, if your school allows, children to keep drinking bottles in the classroom but one day you get into trouble for doing just this, that would be unjust!
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Check back soon :)