Teacher’s Guide

Rule of Law
Time Needed: Learning Objectives. Students will be able to:
One to Two Class Periods  Define “Rule of Law”
Materials Needed:  Explain how the rule of law protects individual rights and
Student worksheets preserves the common good
 Recognize the influence of the rule of law on the
Copy Instructions:
development of the American legal, political, and
Skit Scripts (One set for each group of
governmental systems
actors)
 Analyze the necessity of establishing and enforcing the
Skit Reinforcement Worksheet (2 pages,
rule of law
class set)
 Examine how the rule of law affects everyday life
Graphic Organizer (1 page, class set)
 Identify the effect of Marbury v. Madison and its
Review Worksheets (2 pages, class set)
relationship to the rule of law

STEP BY STEP
 ANTICIPATE by asking students to imagine what life would be like if there were nobody to enforce
the laws. What might happen? Have each student think of at least one possibility, then
call on students to share what they thought of.
 EXPLAIN that they will be learning about the rule of law by performing and watching skits.
Explain that they will learn about six factors that make up the rule of law, and there
will be one skit for each factor. Explain that the skits show what might happen if there
were NO rule of law. (Note: The factors were adapted from those used by the U.S.
Agency for International Development. USAID’s model includes some factors that are
not included in this lesson.)
 GROUP students together and assign each group a Skit Script. Let students choose their roles.
(The number of roles in each skit varies, so check that before you form the groups.)
 ALLOW the groups to read and practice the skits for 10 minutes.
 REGROUP the class and distribute a Skit Reinforcement Worksheet to each student.
 BEGIN the skit performances with the skit for the first factor. After each skit, have students
complete the corresponding activity on the Skit Reinforcement Worksheet. The idea is
to have them identify the concepts illustrated by each skit.
 REVIEW the answers to the skit reinforcement activity before going on to the next skit.
 FINISH all skit performances.
 DISTRIBUTE a Graphic Organizer to each student. Explain that they will use the bold words on the
Skit Reinforcement Worksheet to fill in the blanks on the Graphic Organizer.
 ALLOW students to complete the Graphic Organizer.
 REVIEW the answers to the Graphic Organizer.
 DISTRIBUTE the Review Worksheet and go through the directions for each activity.
 ALLOW students to complete the Review Worksheet. Consider doing the “Rule of Law—Where
Does It Come From?” activity together as a class.
 CLOSE by asking students to silently recall all six factors of the rule of law. Call on students
until all six factors discussed in the lesson have been named.
This lesson plan is part of the Foundations of Government series by iCivics, Inc. a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing civic education. Visit
www.icivics.org/teachers for more resources and to access the state standards aligned to this lesson plan. Send feedback to [email protected].
©2012 iCivics, Inc. You may copy, distribute, or transmit this work for noncommercial purposes if you credit iCivics. All other rights reserved.
Rule of Law Name:

Skit #1: Order and Security

FRIEND #1: We’ve been looking for half an hour,

Roles: and there’s no—
Friend #1 FRIEND #2: There! Help! Police!
Friend #2
Robber [Officer comes over]
Officer FRIEND #2: Officer! Help! Someone robbed and
beat up my friend.

Summary: OFFICER: Do you know where he is?

Two friends are attacked by a robber on the street. FRIEND #1: No. He ran away.
After searching for half an hour, they finally find a OFFICER: Hm. Don’t know what I can do, then.
police officer. The police officer doesn’t know how
to help them. Even when the officer catches the FRIEND #2: Find him!
robber, there is no jail where the officer can keep OFFICER: In this city? I wouldn’t know where to
the robber, and the officer does not have the skills start. And even if I found him, what would I do
to figure out what is going on. The officer suggests with him? We don’t have anywhere to put him.
the injured friend seek justice through a local The jail has been shut down for years.
council instead of in the court system.
FRIEND #2: You can’t do anything?
FRIEND #1: Hey! There he is!
Skit:
[Officer runs after Robber and catches him by the
FRIEND #1: You always want to go to the mall. arm.]
Let’s go see a movie this time.
OFFICER: This is the guy?
FRIEND #2: But the movie will get out after dark,
FRIEND #1: Yes! See? He has my watch!
and it’s too dangerous to be on the street after
dark. OFFICER: [to robber] Is this your watch?
FRIEND #1: It’s always dangerous on the street! I ROBBER: Yes. My mother gave it to me.
mean, even right now we could—Hey! FRIEND #1: That’s a lie!
[Robber comes up.] OFFICER: Look. There’s no way for me to know
ROBBER: Give me all your money! who’s telling the truth. [lets robber go]
FRIEND #1: I don’t have any money! FRIEND #2: You’re just going to let him go? He
needs to be punished!
ROBBER: The watch! Give me the watch! [robber
gets into a fight with Friend #1, and Friend #1 is FRIEND #1: And he has my watch!
badly injured] OFFICER: Take it up with the local council. They
FRIEND #1: Okay, okay! Take the watch. [Friend can figure out what to do.
#1 removes his watch] FRIEND #1: I don’t want to go to the council. I
[Robber takes watch and runs away.] want to go to court.
FRIEND #2: Help! Police! OFFICER: The council is better for this kind of
thing.
FRIEND #1: There aren’t any police around here.
FRIEND #1: So you’re not going to do anything?
FRIEND #2: Let’s try to find one. Can you walk?
OFFICER: [shrugs] Nothing I can do. You’ll have
FRIEND #1: I think so. [they walk]
to solve it yourself, or talk to the council.

Skit Script #1
Rule of Law Name:

Skit #2: Legitimacy

Roles: FRIEND #2: That’s what you get when you borrow
a bunch of laws from some country halfway around
Builder
the world. They must have plenty of tiles there.
Friend #1
Friend #2 BUILDER: [grumbling] Good thing there’s no
Friend #3 money to pay any inspectors.
FRIEND #2: One of these days, we ought to vote
those people out of office. When are they going to
Summary:
listen to us about the laws we need?
One person is building a house while a friend sits
BUILDER: Ha! Never, that’s when. They don’t want
and reads the newspaper. When another friend
input from people like us.
arrives and questions whether the roof looks legal,
the builder laughs at the laws that are in place. FRIEND #3: [drives up in a car] Hey, guys! How’s it
The laws were borrowed from a different country going?
and do not make sense in this country. But the
FRIEND #1: Great. Nice set of wheels! Awful lot of
lawmakers don’t care what the citizens need and
smoke coming out of that tailpipe, though.
aren’t interested in listening. A third friend arrives,
who is breaking the law with his smelly car. But FRIEND #3: I know! Can you believe they said I
the law is stupid and impossible to follow, so why have to pass an emissions test?
try? BUILDER: With that thing? Good luck!
FRIEND #3: I know. Even if I wanted a new car,
Skit: who’s ever seen one for sale in this country?
FRIEND #2: What are you building? FRIEND #1: Not me. We don’t even have any car
makers here.
BUILDER: A house! What does it look like?
FRIEND #3: I can’t even get new parts. But the
FRIEND #2: Looks like it’s about to fall down, if
law still says all the cars have to pass emissions.
you ask me. Isn’t it against the law to build the
It’s stupid.
roof like that?
FRIEND #2: You going to do it?
BUILDER: Yeah, but the law requires tiles. Who’s
ever seen tiles around here? FRIEND #3: Heck, no. Why should I?
FRIEND #1: [reading paper] We were just talking FRIEND #2: Because it’s the law?
about this new building code they passed. What a FRIEND #3: Ha ha! Good one! See you around,
joke! guys. [speeds off]
FRIEND #2: You mean they took a break from
lunch long enough to pass a law?
FRIEND #1: Ha ha! Guess so. Doesn’t have
anything to do with us, though. It’s all about
building fancy hotels and skyscrapers.
BUILDER: They make a law about fancy places,
but they won’t change the law that says I’m
supposed to use tiles for my roof. You can’t even
get tiles in this country!

Skit Script #2
Rule of Law Name:

Skit #3: Checks and Balances

Roles: PRESIDENT: Which makes things a lot easier for

President us. But don’t worry. If someone does challenge
Legislator #1 the law in court, we’ll just do the judge a little
Legislator #2 favor, if you know what I mean.
Legislator #3 LEGISLATOR #3 [to the President]: Yeah, I know
what you mean. But I’ve got a letter here from a
guy who says he voted for me. He works in the
Summary: coal mines and he says a lot of people are getting
The President’s friend wants a new law that will hurt. He says we need more safety rules, not less.
help his business make more money. The President LEGISLATOR #2: How much money is he going to
asks the legislature to pass the law. He assures the give us for passing more safety laws?
legislators that Bob Smith will reward them for their
cooperation. Nobody is worried that the law won’t LEGISLATOR #3: Aw, come on. Aren’t some
hold up because the court system is too things more important than money?
disorganized. Even if someone does take the law to PRESIDENT: Look here. You’d better get on board
court, the President or the legislators can just bribe with this or you might not be representing
the judges. anybody. Bob Smith can do a lot for us. Besides,
he’s a family friend.

Skit: LEGISLATOR #3: [Looks at the letter, then at the

President] You think he’ll let me use his yacht for a
PRESIDENT: Hi, guys. Listen—Bob Smith came to couple weeks? My kids could use a vacation.
see me. His coal business isn’t making enough
money, and he wants us to let up on the safety LEGISLATOR #1: Sounds like we’re going to get
rules. It costs a lot to keep those mines safe. I told this law passed without any problems.
him we could pass a law doing away with some of PRESIDENT: Don’t you worry. You’ll be sunbathing
those mine safety rules. on the waves before you know it. Send me the bill
LEGISLATOR #1: Maybe we could, but what’s in it as soon as it’s passed, and I’ll sign it right away.
for us?
PRESIDENT: Don’t worry. He said he would be sure
to take care of you.
LEGISLATOR #2: Sounds good to me. What do you
want the law to say?
LEGISLATOR #3: Wait a minute—can we do that?
LEGISLATOR #1: Who’s going to stop us?
LEGISLATOR #3: The judicial branch. Somebody
might challenge the law in court.
LEGISLATOR #2: Let them try! The court is so
disorganized, it loses track of half the cases.
LEGISLATOR #1: Yeah. Most of them never even
go to trial. And we hardly have any judges. We may
as well not have any judicial branch at all.

Skit Script #3
Rule of Law Name:

Skit #4: Equal Application of the Law

Roles: JUDGE: How out of hand?

Judge TOWN MAYOR: I might have broken a few things.
Thief Including his arm.
Officer
Town Mayor [judge sighs]
TOWN MAYOR: Look. I’ve known you for a long
time. Since before you got this job, if you
Summary: understand my meaning.
After sentencing a thief to five years of hard labor JUDGE: I understand very well. But you don’t need
for stealing potatoes at the market, the judge finds to pull that with me. You’re the mayor—I’ll take
the town mayor waiting in his office. The mayor care of things.
had a problem at the market, too. He lost his
temper with a vendor because of the vendor’s high TOWN MAYOR: That’s what I figured, but I wanted
prices. The mayor broke things in the vendor’s to talk to you in person.
shop and broke the vendor’s arm. Because of the JUDGE: Doesn’t sound to me like there was any
mayor’s position, the judge agrees to overlook the problem at the market at all. [laughs] Those
offense. vendors should learn how to treat a customer right.
TOWN MAYOR: [laughing] I am the mayor, after
Skit: all!

JUDGE: I find you guilty of stealing two sacks of

potatoes from the market. I sentence you to five
years of hard labor and a $1,000 fine.
THIEF: But Your Honor, I don’t have any money!
JUDGE: Then you should not have broken the law.
Case closed! I’m going to take a break.
THIEF: Wait! This isn’t fair!
OFFICER: Settle down. Let’s go.
THIEF: It was only potatoes! My kids didn’t have
enough to eat!
OFFICER: Be quiet, or I’ll have to gag you!
[in the judge’s chambers]
JUDGE: Hey there! This is a surprise. Good to see
you.
TOWN MAYOR: Listen. I’ve got a small problem.
JUDGE: Oh?
TOWN MAYOR: I had an issue with this vendor at
the market. You know how it is. These guys and
their prices—they try to get away with murder
these days! I might have let my temper get a little
out of hand.

Skit Script #4
Rule of Law Name:

Skit #5: Procedural Fairness

Roles: PRISONER #1: Maybe. But then, I’ve seen people

get out after a few weeks. Who knows why.
Jail Guard
Prisoner #1 PRISONER #2: Probably because they’ve got
Prisoner #2 money. That leaves me out—I got caught stealing
Prisoner #3 a loaf of bread.
[Door opens]

Summary: JAIL GUARD: You guys have got company.

[Guard throws another prisoner in the cell.]
Three prisoners end up sharing the same cell. One
prisoner has been in prison for two years without PRISONER #3: It’s not fair! You can’t put me in
being told why and without ever seeing a judge. here!
Another prisoner is taken to court after spending JAIL GUARD: Tell it to someone who cares. [shuts
only a short time in jail. There is no clear reason the door]
why that prisoner gets to go to court when the
PRISONER #3: This is awful. How am I ever
other one did not. A third prisoner has been jailed
going to get out of here?
for not being able to pay the court fee. The court
fee is decided by the judge on a case-by-case PRISONER #1: Ha. Maybe you won’t.
basis.
PRISONER #2: What happened to you?
PRISONER #3: They took me to the judge, but he
Skit: set the fee for my case really high. Five hundred
dollars! I couldn’t afford it.
[Jail Guard throws Prisoner #2 into the jail cell,
where Prisoner #1 is already living.] PRISONER #1: What crime did you commit?
PRISONER #1 [to the jailer]: Hey! Hey, have you PRISONER #3: I didn’t commit a crime. I owe my
found out anything yet? neighbor money, and she sued me. The judge
said since I couldn’t pay my neighbor and I
JAIL GUARD: Not my job to find out things. I just
couldn’t pay the court fee, I had to come here.
make sure people don’t escape.
PRISONER #2: That is so unfair!
PRISONER #1: Come on—you said you’d try to
find out why I’m in jail. PRISONER #3: And get this: The guy before me
only had to pay $75 for his case. I don’t know
JAIL GUARD: Probably because you did something
how the judge decides what the fee is going to
wrong.
be.
PRISONER #1: But I didn’t do anything! Come
[Door opens]
on—Can’t you find someone who can tell me why
I’m here? JAIL GUARD [to Prisoner #2]: Hey, you—yes, you.
Come on.
JAIL GUARD: Shut up and eat your dinner.
PRISONER #2: Where are you taking me?
[Jail Guard leaves]
JAIL GUARD: They said the judge is ready to hear
PRISONER #1: I’ve been in here for two years
your case.
and I still can’t get them to tell me what’s going
on. I’ve never seen a courtroom—nothing. PRISONER #2 [pointing at Prisoner #1]: What
about him? He’s been in here longer than me.
PRISONER #2: Seriously? You mean I could be in
here for years without seeing a judge? JAIL GUARD: I don’t know anything about him.
Are you coming or not?
PRISONER #2: Good luck, you two…
Skit Script #5
Rule of Law Name:

Skit #6: Access to Justice

Roles: TAMARA: Really? Maybe if I go there right now I

can file a case.
Tamara (woman with a problem)
Robert (Tamara’s male friend) ROBERT: [sarcastically] Good luck.
Angela (Tamara’s female neighbor) ANGELA: I’ll go with you. Let’s go.
Court Clerk
[Tamara and Angela go to the courthouse]
Man (Files a case in court)
[at the clerk window]
TAMARA: Excuse me. Excuse me!
Summary:
[clerk ignores her]
Tamara wants to take a man to court for refusing
to stop farming her land, but the local court is TAMARA: Excuse me! I want to file a case.
almost always closed. The nearest court is in the
CLERK: Fill out this form.
capital city, but Tamara can’t afford to travel that
far. When the local court opens for a day, Tamara TAMARA: Can you help me fill this out? I don’t
thinks she’ll be able to file her case. But women understand it.
are not treated the same as men, and as a CLERK: Nope. You’ve got to do it on your own.
woman, Tamara did not get enough schooling to
be able to read the forms. Without access to MAN: Excuse me. I’d like to file a case.
justice, Tamara has no way to enforce her rights. CLERK: You need to get out of the way, ma’am.
Fill out this form, sir.
Skit: MAN: Okay. [takes form and fills it out]
TAMARA: I don’t know what to do! I’ve told him a TAMARA [to Angela]: I can’t read this.
hundred times he can’t farm that land. It’s my ANGELA: I had two years of school. Let me try.
land, but he won’t leave. [looks at form] I can read some of it, but I don’t
ROBERT: I can think of a few ways you could get really understand what it’s about. I don’t know
him to leave. anything about how the courts work.
TAMARA: I’m sure you could. But I don’t need to TAMARA [to clerk]: Isn’t there any other way I can
go to prison. [sighs] Maybe the court will open see the judge?
soon. CLERK: Nope. Sorry.
ROBERT: Ha! It’s been closed for six months. If TAMARA [to Angela]: Let’s just go. I’ll have to find
you want to take him to court, you’ll have to some other way to get that man off my land.
travel to the capital city.
TAMARA: I can’t afford to travel five hundred
miles to the city. They’ve got to get a judge out
here soon. They can’t just leave the court closed
forever.
ROBERT: That would take money. Besides, you
would never win. You’re a woman.
TAMARA: Yeah, you’re probably right.
ANGELA: Hi, guys! Guess what? I was just in
town and the court is open. Can you believe it?

Skit Script #6
Rule of Law Name:

Did You Get It? After you watch each skit, complete the cause/effect activity that goes with the skit.

SKIT #1: ORDER AND SECURITY

Causes Effects
___1. The victims knew the law enforcement was A. People commit crimes knowing they will get
not effective. away with it.
___2. The police did not have procedures for B. They could not stop crime or keep order in
dealing with crime. society.

___3. Criminals do not face any consequences. C. They did not encourage people to use the
courts.
___4. The police thought the local council was
D. They did not feel safe on the streets and they
better than the court.
worried about being out after dark.

SKIT #2: LEGITIMACY

Causes Effects
___1. The laws in this country were borrowed A. The rest of the people the lawmakers represent
from another country. have no input in the lawmaking process.
___2. Lawmakers only pass laws to help their B. The laws do not meet the needs of the people in
friends. this country, and people do not see them as
worthy of following.
___3. People are expected to follow the law
even though it was sometimes impossible. C. Citizens do not respect the law because they
don’t see it as fair and reasonable.

SKIT #3: CHECKS AND BALANCES

Causes Effects
___1. The judicial branch is disorganized and A. It cannot function effectively
doesn’t have enough judges.
B. The judicial system is not independent from
___2. Lawmakers are only interested in what they the lawmaking branch.
can get from the wealthy.
C. Power is not really divided between the
___3. The lawmakers do what the President wants legislative and executive branches.
them to.
D. They do not care about the other people they
___4. Judges are willing to take favors from represent.
lawmakers.
Skit Reinforcement Worksheet p.1
Rule of Law Name:

Did You Get It? (Continued…)

SKIT #4: EQUAL APPLICATION OF THE LAW

Causes Effects
___1. The judge saw the mayor as being too A. He did not think he needed to obey the law.
important to punish.
B. In court, he was not treated the same as a rich or
___2. The poor person was not able to influential person would have been.
influence the judge.
C. He let the mayor be above the law.
___3. The mayor knew he could control the
judge.

SKIT #5: PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS

Causes Effects
___1. There were no rules for bringing A. One prisoner didn’t know why he was in jail.
prisoners to court quickly.
B. The prisoners had no idea how long they would
___2. The government did not have to follow be in jail.
set procedures.
C. Every case proceeded differently, and the legal
___3. No law required that prisoners be told system was not fair.
why they are being held.

SKIT #6: ACCESS TO JUSTICE

Causes Effects
___1. Tamara and Angela did not have much A. She had no way to enforce her rights.
education.
B. Men had easier access to justice than women.
___2. The nearest court was too far away.
C. They did not have the knowledge to
___3. The man who came to court had an understand the court system.
easier time than Tamara did.
D. No court was available where Tamara could
___4. Tamara was not able to file a case. seek justice.

Skit Reinforcement Worksheet p.2

Rule of Law Name:
Organize. Use the bold words in each cause/effect skit activity to complete the chart below:

Graphic Organizer
Rule of Law Name:

Rule of Law—Where Does It Come From? Our nation was built on the rule of law. Read
each statement below and decide which Rule of Law factor it describes.

O = Order and Security E = Equal Application of the Law

L = Legitimacy P = Procedural Fairness
C = Checks and Balances A = Access to Justice

___1. Every state sent representatives to help ___8. In the case Marbury v. Madison in 1803, the
write the U.S. Constitution, and all of those Supreme Court said that the judicial branch
representatives signed the Constitution has the power to strike down laws that violate
when it was finished. the Constitution, even though another branch
of government passed that law.
___2. The 14th Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution says that states must give ___7. Congress has created the Federal Rules of
everyone “the equal protection of the laws.” Criminal Procedure, which lists the procedures
that must be followed in every criminal case.
___3. The 6th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
says that people accused of a crime have ___9. The U.S. Constitution did not become the law
the right to have a lawyer help them defend of our nation until nine states approved it.
themselves.
___10. Every state has laws that say children must
___4. The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution says go to school until a certain age.
one goal of the Constitution is to make sure
our country is secure and peaceful. ___11. In the case Marbury v. Madison in 1803, the
Supreme Court said that the Constitution is
___5. The U.S. Constitution splits the government’s superior to all other laws and even the
power between a legislative, an executive, government must follow it.
and a judicial branch.
___12. The U.S. Constitution says that nobody can
___6. The U.S. Constitution says that people be “deprived of life, liberty, or property
accused of a crime have the right to a without due process of law.”
“speedy” trial.

Explain It to a 4th Grader. In 1803, Chief Justice John Marshall wrote the Supreme Court’s decision
in Marbury v. Madison. He had something to say about the rule of law. How would you explain it so
a little kid could understand?

“The government of the United States has been ...

termed a government of laws, and not of men.”

Chief Justice Marshall was trying to say that...

Review Worksheet p.1

Rule of Law Name:

Fun with Rule of Law! Find 20 key words in the puzzle.

First, find the 6 factors of Rule of Law:

V P I S T L E T B N T S X S X
L J R U E C A A B N Y E A E J  _______________ and _______________

X G P O R H L U E Z G C E C R  ____________________

E N T O C A C D Q Y Y N S I W  _______________ and _______________

I F F B N E N N P E F E E T H  ______________ Application of the _______
K N K C T E D E A F H U C S C  Procedural ____________________
E Z E Y P F O U D R R Q U U O  ______________ to _______________
H S F E R P I C R T B E R J A
Now find these other key terms:
K K D M L H B T C E R S I S C
C N R E S P E C T H S N T E C INPUT RESPECT
I U M R E D R O L V E O Y L E PROCEDURES BRANCHES
S S E N R I A F V A H C E U S SAFE ENFORCE
N U M P S F N R V T W F K R S CONSEQUENCES INDEPENDENT
L E G I T I M A C Y U H L S J RULES PEOPLE
A X R O S A F E C B O H C P M

Would This Work? Debra doesn’t think so, but she might be wrong. Look at each pair
of Rule of Law factors. Would it be possible to have one without the other? If so, how?
Watch out—this could be a brain twister! Use your graphic organizer for help.

CHECKS & BALANCES / EQUAL APPLICATION OF THE LAW ACCESS TO JUSTICE / PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS
 You could have one  They have to exist  You could have one  They have to exist
without the other if... together because... without the other if... together because...

Review Worksheet p.2

Rule of Law Name:

Did You Get It? After you watch each skit, complete the cause/effect activity that goes with the skit.

SKIT #1: ORDER AND SECURITY

Causes Effects
_D_1. The victims knew the law enforcement was A. People commit crimes knowing they will get
not effective. away with it.
_B_2. The police did not have procedures for B. They could not stop crime or keep order in
dealing with crime. society.

_A_3. Criminals do not face any consequences. C. They did not encourage people to use the
courts.
_C_4. The police thought the local council was
D. They did not feel safe on the streets and they
better than the court.
worried about being out after dark.

SKIT #2: LEGITIMACY

Causes Effects
_B_1. The laws in this country were borrowed A. The rest of the people the lawmakers represent
from another country. have no input in the lawmaking process.
_A_2. Lawmakers only pass laws to help their B. The laws do not meet the needs of the people in
friends. this country, and people do not see them as
worthy of following.
_C_3. People are expected to follow the law
even though it was sometimes impossible. C. Citizens do not respect the law because they
don’t see it as fair and reasonable.

SKIT #3: CHECKS AND BALANCES

Causes Effects
_A_1. The judicial branch is disorganized and A. It cannot function effectively
doesn’t have enough judges.
B. The judicial system is not independent from
_D_2. Lawmakers are only interested in what they the lawmaking branch.
can get from the wealthy.
C. Power is not really divided between the
_C_3. The lawmakers do what the President wants legislative and executive branches.
them to.
D. They do not care about the other people they
_B_4. Judges are willing to take favors from represent.
lawmakers.
Skit Reinforcement Worksheet p.1
Rule of Law Name:

Did You Get It? (Continued…)

SKIT #4: EQUAL APPLICATION OF THE LAW

Causes Effects
_C_1. The judge saw the mayor as being too A. He did not think he needed to obey the law.
important to punish.
B. In court, he was not treated the same as a rich or
_B_2. The poor person was not able to influential person would have been.
influence the judge.
C. He let the mayor be above the law.
_A_3. The mayor knew he could control the
judge.

SKIT #5: PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS

Causes Effects
_B_1. There were no rules for bringing A. One prisoner didn’t know why he was in jail.
prisoners to court quickly.
B. The prisoners had no idea how long they would
_C_2. The government did not have to follow be in jail.
set procedures.
C. Every case proceeded differently, and the legal
_A_3. No law required that prisoners be told system was not fair.
why they are being held.

SKIT #6: ACCESS TO JUSTICE

Causes Effects
_C_1. Tamara and Angela did not have much A. She had no way to enforce her rights.
education.
B. Men had easier access to justice than women.
_D_2. The nearest court was too far away.
C. They did not have the knowledge to
_B_3. The man who came to court had an understand the court system.
easier time than Tamara did.
D. No court was available where Tamara could
_A_4. Tamara was not able to file a case. seek justice.

Skit Reinforcement Worksheet p.2

Rule of Law Name:
Organize. Use the bold words in each cause/effect skit activity to complete the chart below:

safe
procedures
consequences

worthy
input
respect fair

divided
function
independent
people

above
same

rules
follows
fair

enforce
knowledge
available

Graphic Organizer
Rule of Law Name:

Rule of Law—Where Does It Come From? Our nation was built on the rule of law. Read
each statement below and decide which Rule of Law factor it best describes.

O = Order and Security E = Equal Application of the Law

L = Legitimacy P = Procedural Fairness
C = Checks and Balances A = Access to Justice

_L_1. Every state sent representatives to help _C_8. In the case Marbury v. Madison in 1803, the
write the U.S. Constitution, and all of those Supreme Court said that the judicial branch
representatives signed the Constitution has the power to strike down laws that violate
when it was finished. the Constitution, even though another branch
of government passed that law.
_E_2. The 14th Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution says that states must give _P_7. Congress has created the Federal Rules of
everyone “the equal protection of the laws.” Criminal Procedure, which lists the procedures
that must be followed in every criminal case.
_A_3. The 6th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
(P) says that people accused of a crime have _L_9. The U.S. Constitution did not become the law
the right to have a lawyer help them defend of our nation until nine states approved it.
themselves.
_A_10. Every state has laws that say children must
_O_4. The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution says go to school until a certain age.
one goal of the Constitution is to make sure
our country is secure and peaceful. _E_11. In the case Marbury v. Madison in 1803, the
Supreme Court said that even the
_C_5. The U.S. Constitution splits the government must follow the Constitution.
government’s power between a legislative,
an executive, and a judicial branch. _P_12. The U.S. Constitution says that nobody can
be “deprived of life, liberty, or property
_P_6. The U.S. Constitution says that people without due process of law.”
(A) accused of a crime have the right to a
“speedy” trial.

Explain It to a 4th Grader. In 1803, Chief Justice John Marshall wrote the Supreme Court’s decision
in Marbury v. Madison. He had something to say about the rule of law. How would you explain it so
a little kid could understand?

“The government of the United States has been ...

termed a government of laws, and not of men.”

Chief Justice Marshall was trying to say that...

… laws control how our government works, not

people.
(answers will vary)

Review Worksheet p.1

Rule of Law Name:

Fun with Rule of Law! Find 20 key words in the puzzle.

First, find the 6 factors of Rule of Law:

V P I S T L E T B N T S X S X
L J R U E C A A B N Y E A E J  ___Checks____ and ___Balances___

X G P O R H L U E Z G C E C R  ___Legitimacy____

E N T O C A C D Q Y Y N S I W  ___Order___ and ___Security____

I F F B N E N N P E F E E T H  ___Equal___ Application of the __Law__
K N K C T E D E A F H U C S C  Procedural ___Fairness______
E Z E Y P F O U D R R Q U U O  ___Access___ to ___Justice___
H S F E R P I C R T B E R J A
Now find these other key terms:
K K D M L H B T C E R S I S C
C N R E S P E C T H S N T E C INPUT RESPECT
I U M R E D R O L V E O Y L E PROCEDURES BRANCHES
S S E N R I A F V A H C E U S SAFE ENFORCE
N U M P S F N R V T W F K R S CONSEQUENCES INDEPENDENT
L E G I T I M A C Y U H L S J RULES PEOPLE
A X R O S A F E C B O H C P M

Would This Work? Debra doesn’t think so, but she might be wrong. Look at each pair
of Rule of Law factors. Would it be possible to have one without the other? If so, how?
Watch out—this could be a brain twister! Use your graphic organizer for help.

CHECKS & BALANCES / EQUAL APPLICATION OF THE LAW ACCESS TO JUSTICE / PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS
 You could have one  They have to exist  You could have one  They have to exist
without the other if... together because... without the other if... together because...

Answers will vary. Sample answers: Answers will vary. Sample answers:
You could have one with out the other if the They have to exist together because if the
three branches could check each other’s procedures aren’t fair, some people will be
power, but the judicial system did not treat treated differently and will have less access
everyone the same in court. to justice.
You could have one without the other if the You could have one without the other if the
legislative branch had all the power but court procedures were fair, but some people,
everyone was treated the same by the such as women, had no education and could
judicial system. not access the courts.
They have to exist together because if one You could have one without the other if the
branch had all the power, that branch might procedures were fair, but there was no
be considered “above the law.” money to run the courts, so the courts were
always closed.

Review Worksheet p.2