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US Laws (Hate Crimes Remote Lesson)

Last updated over 5 years ago
6 questions

What is a law?

1

As a class, let's brainstorm examples of rules that you live by every day – at home, school and in your community. Discuss some reasons for these rules or laws. (Examples might be traffic laws intended to keep drivers safe, school rules that help keep students and teachers focused on learning, or laws in your community that protect its citizens from others who might harm them.)

Source: https://www.politicalscienceview.com/definition-of-law/

Who Makes Laws?

Laws that are made on a national level are called Federal laws because they are made by our Federal Government.

"Everyone must follow the Federal laws because we live in one nation called the United States. Federal laws are made by Congress on all kinds of matters, such as speed limits on highways. These laws make sure that all people are kept safe. The United States Congress is the lawmaking body of the Federal Government. Congress has two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Each state also passes its own laws, which you must follow when you are in that state. If you live in Michigan, for example, you would follow the laws of that state as well as the Federal laws."

Source: https://bensguide.gpo.gov/a-who-makes
1

Based on the excerpt above, what is the difference between a federal law and a state law?

How Are Laws Made?

"...A law is like a rule that we must follow. We know that Congress makes the laws, and now we will learn how they are made.

1. Laws start in Congress. When someone in the House of Representatives or the Senate wants to make a law, they start by writing a bill. A bill is like an early version, or a draft, of the proposed law. Each Congress lasts about two years. During that time, Senators and Representatives may introduce thousands of bills. Yet only some of those bills will eventually become laws.

2. The bill has to be voted on by both houses of Congress: the House of Representatives and the Senate. If they both vote for the bill to become a law, the bill is sent to the President of the United States. He or she can choose whether or not to sign the bill.

3. If the President signs the bill, it becomes a law. If the President decides not to sign the bill into law, it is called a veto and the bill is sent back to Congress.

5. Congress can bypass, or override, the veto with a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate. The bill would then become a law."

Lesson Plan from the American Association of School Librarians: How Laws are Made—Ben's GuideA
Answer the questions below:
1

If the President decides not to sign the bill into law, it is called a:

1

This has to be voted on by both houses of Congress:

1

When Congress overrides a veto by two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate it is called:

1

This is like a rule that we must follow:

Now, let's review how a bill becomes a law:
Now let's complete the Edpuzzle lesson to review and assess our understanding of laws.