En anglais

Laws and how they change

Civics & Economics · Government · ages 8-11

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Which action directly asks other people to support a proposed law change?
- Read the law and check its current wording
- Share reasons and ask for support
- Count the votes from a finished election
Which purpose can laws serve?
- Protect people's safety and settle disputes
- Give helpful advice people may choose to follow
- Record what most residents prefer to do
Some laws protect freedoms, such as sharing opinions.
Circle one: True False
Maria starts a petition asking her town council to review a law. What does signing it do?
- Records an official vote to change the law
- Shows support for reviewing the law
- Shows the council has agreed to review it
A town requires shops to keep paths to fire exits clear. What is the safety purpose of this law?
- Help people reach an exit during a fire
- Give shoppers a shorter route to the tills
- Give shop staff more space for storage
In a town vote, all 14 valid votes are counted: 9 yes and 5 no. The rule says a change passes if more than half vote yes. Does it pass?
- No, because 9 is less than the 14 votes
- No, because 5 no votes block the change
- Yes, because 9 yes votes exceed half of 14
A town's law protects peaceful criticism of officials and bans threats to hurt people. Ali calmly says a plan wastes money. Ben threatens to hurt its supporters. Which response fits both parts of this law?
- Punish both, since criticism can upset people
- Allow both, since opinions can include threats
- Allow Ali's criticism; apply the ban to Ben's threat
Jake says, 'Laws never change, so speaking up is pointless.' Which reply uses what you learned?
- Lawmakers can enforce it but cannot change it
- People can ask lawmakers to consider changing it
- An internal vote at a campaign meeting changes the law

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Laws and how they change W1-mt_5gxLuo0u_V-s1

Share reasons and ask for support · A campaign shares reasons for a proposed change and asks people for support. Reading a law or counting completed votes does not itself ask for support.
Protect people's safety and settle disputes · Laws can protect safety and help settle disputes. They are rules, rather than optional advice or a record of people's preferences.
True · Some laws protect sharing opinions. These protections can have legal limits.
Shows support for reviewing the law · Signing shows support for Maria's request. It is not an official vote on the law or a decision by the council.
Help people reach an exit during a fire · A clear path helps people reach an exit during a fire. The safety purpose is escape, rather than quicker shopping or extra storage.
Yes, because 9 yes votes exceed half of 14 · Half of 14 is 7. Nine yes votes exceed 7, so the change passes under the stated rule.
Allow Ali's criticism; apply the ban to Ben's threat · Ali criticizes the plan peacefully, which this law protects. Ben threatens harm, which its threat ban covers. Disliking criticism does not make it a threat.
People can ask lawmakers to consider changing it · People can ask lawmakers to consider a change. An internal campaign vote is not an official vote on a law and does not itself change the law.