Laws and How They Change · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.
Laws and How They Change
Civics & Economics · Government · ages 8-11
Name ______________________ Date ____________
Which of these is a fair way to change a law you think is unfair?
Ignore it and do whatever you want
Sign a petition or vote for change
Yell at anyone who disagrees
Why do communities have laws?
To keep people safe and settle disputes fairly
To make life harder for kids
To give one person all the power
Laws can protect freedoms, like the freedom to speak your mind.
Circle one: TrueFalse
Maria thinks her town's curfew law is outdated. What could she do to try to change it?
Break the curfew every night
Start a petition and ask the town council to review it
Only complain to her friends about it
A town has a law that says everyone must wear a seatbelt in a car. What is the purpose of this law?
To protect people from injury in a crash
To make cars cost more
To punish good drivers
A town votes on changing a law. If a majority is needed, does the law change?
Yes, because more people voted yes
No, because 4 people voted no
It depends on the weather
A country passes a law letting citizens gather peacefully to share their opinions in public. What does this law protect?
The right to ignore all other laws
A punishment for speaking in public
The freedom to express opinions
Jake says, 'If I don't like a law, I should just break it, because laws never change.' What is wrong with his thinking?
Nothing, he is right
He is wrong; citizens can petition, vote, or campaign to change unfair laws
He is wrong because laws never affect kids
Answer key
For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.
Laws and How They Change W1-mt_5gxLuo0u_V-s1
Sign a petition or vote for change · Petitioning, voting, and campaigning are the fair ways citizens change a law.
To keep people safe and settle disputes fairly · Laws exist to protect people and help settle disagreements in a fair way.
True · Some laws exist specifically to protect freedoms like speech and worship.
Start a petition and ask the town council to review it · A petition brings the issue to the people who can actually change the law.
To protect people from injury in a crash · The seatbelt law exists to keep people safer if a crash happens.
Yes, because more people voted yes · 6 yes votes beat 4 no votes, so the majority wins and the law changes.
The freedom to express opinions · This law protects a freedom, the right to speak and gather peacefully.
He is wrong; citizens can petition, vote, or campaign to change unfair laws · Laws can change through fair processes, so breaking the law is not the only choice.