Law
Earning this merit badge enables a Scout to learn about the history
and kinds of laws, the purpose and methods of law enforcement, consumer
protection agencies, emerging law, and careers in the legal profession.
Requirements
- Define "law." Tell some of its sources. Describe functions it serves.
- Discuss two of the following:
- Justinian's Code, the Code of Hammurabi, and the Magna Carta
- The development of the jury system
- Two famous trials in history
- Tell what civil law is; tell what criminal law is. Tell the main differences between them. Give examples of each.
- Ask five people (not more than one from your immediate family) about the role of law enforcement officers in our society. Discuss their answers with them. Go to a law enforcement officer in your neighborhood and ask about his or her responsibilities and duties. Report your findings.
- Tell about several laws that were passed to protect the consumer and the seller. Tell about several organizations that provide help to consumers and sellers.
- Do ONE of the following:
- Attend a session of a civil or criminal court. Write 250 words or more on what you saw.
- Plan and conduct a mock trial with your troop or school class. After the trial is over, discuss it with the group.
- Arrange a visit with a lawyer who works for a business, bank, title company, or government agency. Find out his or her duties and responsibilities. Report what you have learned.
- Explain the requirements for becoming a lawyer in your state. Describe how judges are selected in your state.
- Make a list of 15 jobs that deal with some aspects of law or legal processes. Tell which you prefer. Why?
- Tell where people can go to obtain the help of a lawyer if they are unable to pay for one. Tell what you can do if you can afford a lawyer but do not know of any in your area.
- Discuss with your counselor the importance in our society of TWO of the following areas of law that have recently emerged and are still developing:
- Environmental law
- Computers and the Internet
- Copyright and the Internet
- Space travel and satellites orbiting Earth
Resources
Scouting Literature
Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, and Crime Prevention merit badge pamphlets
Books
- Aaseng, Nathan. You Are the Juror. Oliver Press, 1997.
- Abadinsky, Howard. Law and Justice: An Introduction to the American Legal System. Third edition. Nelson-Hall, 1995.
- Abramson, Jeffrey. We, the Jury: The Jury System and the Ideal of Democracy. Harvard University Press, 2000.
- Adler, Stephen J. Jury: Trial and Error in the American Courtroom. Times Books, 1994.
- American Bar Association. A Life in Law. American Bar Association, 1999. (A guide to law as a career. Call toll-free 800-285-2221 to order; specify product code 235-0036.)
- Arbetman, Lee P., Margaret E. Fisher, and Edward L. O'Brien. Street Law: A Course in Practical Law. South-Western Thomson Learning, 1999.
- Arbetman, Lee P., and Richard L. Roe. Great Trials in American History: Civil War to the Present. West Publishing Company College and School Division, 1984.
- Besenjak, Cheryl. Copyright Plain & Simple. Career Press, 2000.
- Bjornlund, Lydia D. The U.S. Constitution: Blueprint for Democracy. Lucent Books, 1999.
- Carrel, Annette. It's the Law: A Young Person's Guide to Our Legal System. Volcano Press, 1994.
- Emert, Phyllis Raybin. Top Lawyers and Their Famous Cases. Oliver Press, 1996.
- Irons, Peter. The Courage of Their Convictions. Free Press, 1988.
- Knight, Alfred H. The Life of the Law: The People and Cases That Have Shaped Our Society From King Alfred to Rodney King. Oxford University Press, 1998.
- Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. HarperCollins, 1999.
- Lipson, Eric B., and Greta B. Lipson. Everyday Law for Young Citizens. Teaching and Learning Company, 2000.
- Monk, Linda R. The Bill of Rights: A User's Guide. Third edition. Close Up Foundation, 2000.
- Morin, Isobel V. Our Changing Constitution: How and Why We Have Amended It. Millbrook Press, 1998.
- National Crime Prevention Council Staff. Community Works: Smart Teens Make Safer Communities. National Crime Prevention Council, 1999.
- Renstrom, Peter G. The American Law Dictionary. A B C-CLIO, 1991.
- Roleff, Tamara L., editor. Civil Liberties: Opposing Viewpoints. Greenhaven Press, 1999.