Rule of Law Lesson Plan | Rule of Law Activity | iCivics - Free Printable

Problem Description:

The task involves analyzing the causes and effects of three scenarios related to governance, law, and order. The goal is to match each cause with its corresponding effect from a list of provided options.

Scenarios:

1. Skit #1: Order and Security
- Causes:
1. The victims knew the law enforcement was not effective.
2. The police did not have procedures for dealing with crime.
3. Criminals do not face any consequences.
4. People thought the local council was rotten.
- Effects:
A. People commit crimes knowing they will get away with it.
B. People do not stop crime but keep order in society.
C. They did not encourage people to use the law.
D. They did not feel safe on the streets and they worried about being hurt after dark.

2. Skit #2: Legitimacy
- Causes:
1. The laws in this country were borrowed from another country.
2. Some people only paid taxes because they feared their friends.
3. People are expected to follow the law even though it was sometimes unreasonable.
- Effects:
A. None of the people the lawmakers represent have input in the lawmaking process.
B. The laws do not reflect the needs or values of the people in this country, and people do not see them as legitimate.
C. Citizens do not respect the law because they don’t see it as fair and reasonable.
D. People do not trust the government.

3. Skit #3: Checks and Balances
- Causes:
1. The judicial branch is bogged down and doesn’t have enough judges.
2. Lawmakers are only interested in what they can gain personally.
3. The lawmakers do what the President wants them to do.
4. Judges are willing to take favors from lawmakers.
- Effects:
A. Executive function effectively.
B. The judicial system is not independent from the legislative branch.
C. Power is not evenly divided between the branches of government.
D. They do not care about the other people they represent.

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Solution:

#### Skit #1: Order and Security
1. Cause 1: The victims knew the law enforcement was not effective.
- Effect: A. People commit crimes knowing they will get away with it.
- Explanation: If victims know that law enforcement is ineffective, they may assume that criminals will not be punished, leading to more crimes.

2. Cause 2: The police did not have procedures for dealing with crime.
- Effect: C. They did not encourage people to use the law.
- Explanation: Without proper procedures, the police cannot effectively address crimes, which discourages people from reporting incidents or seeking legal help.

3. Cause 3: Criminals do not face any consequences.
- Effect: A. People commit crimes knowing they will get away with it.
- Explanation: If criminals are not punished, others may be encouraged to commit crimes, believing they will also avoid consequences.

4. Cause 4: People thought the local council was rotten.
- Effect: D. They did not feel safe on the streets and they worried about being hurt after dark.
- Explanation: If people distrust the local council, they may feel unsafe and worry about their security, especially at night when visibility is low.

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#### Skit #2: Legitimacy
1. Cause 1: The laws in this country were borrowed from another country.
- Effect: B. The laws do not reflect the needs or values of the people in this country, and people do not see them as legitimate.
- Explanation: Borrowed laws may not align with the cultural, social, or economic context of the borrowing country, leading to a lack of legitimacy.

2. Cause 2: Some people only paid taxes because they feared their friends.
- Effect: D. People do not trust the government.
- Explanation: Paying taxes out of fear rather than belief in the system indicates a lack of trust in the government's authority and fairness.

3. Cause 3: People are expected to follow the law even though it was sometimes unreasonable.
- Effect: C. Citizens do not respect the law because they don’t see it as fair and reasonable.
- Explanation: Unreasonable laws erode public respect for the legal system, as people may feel that the laws are unjust or impractical.

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#### Skit #3: Checks and Balances
1. Cause 1: The judicial branch is bogged down and doesn’t have enough judges.
- Effect: C. Power is not evenly divided between the branches of government.
- Explanation: An under-resourced judicial branch weakens its ability to check the powers of the executive and legislative branches, leading to an imbalance of power.

2. Cause 2: Lawmakers are only interested in what they can gain personally.
- Effect: D. They do not care about the other people they represent.
- Explanation: Self-interested lawmakers prioritize personal gain over the needs and interests of their constituents.

3. Cause 3: The lawmakers do what the President wants them to do.
- Effect: B. The judicial system is not independent from the legislative branch.
- Explanation: If lawmakers are influenced by the President, it undermines the independence of the legislative branch, which should operate separately from the executive.

4. Cause 4: Judges are willing to take favors from lawmakers.
- Effect: B. The judicial system is not independent from the legislative branch.
- Explanation: Judges accepting favors from lawmakers compromises the independence of the judiciary, making it susceptible to legislative influence.

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Final Answer:

- Skit #1:
1. Cause 1 → Effect A
2. Cause 2 → Effect C
3. Cause 3 → Effect A
4. Cause 4 → Effect D

- Skit #2:
1. Cause 1 → Effect B
2. Cause 2 → Effect D
3. Cause 3 → Effect C

- Skit #3:
1. Cause 1 → Effect C
2. Cause 2 → Effect D
3. Cause 3 → Effect B
4. Cause 4 → Effect B

Boxed Final Answer:
\[
\boxed{
\begin{array}{ll}
\text{Skit #1:} & \text{1. A, 2. C, 3. A, 4. D} \\
\text{Skit #2:} & \text{1. B, 2. D, 3. C} \\
\text{Skit #3:} & \text{1. C, 2. D, 3. B, 4. B} \\
\end{array}
}
\]