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Rule of Law for All curriculum

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Posted:
08/10/2022
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Lessons

  1. Introduction to Rule of Law
  2. Controlling Corruption and Abuse of Power
  3. Open and Transparent Government
  4. Fair and Effective Court System
  5. Fundamental Rights
  6. Peace and Stability
  7. Limiting and Balancing Government Power
  8. Culminating Activity: Addressing a Rule of Law Change in My Community

About the Curriculum

Rule of law is a founding principle of the United States and a bedrock of democracy. It ensures that no one is above the law, that laws are publicly and widely known, that laws apply equally to all and are equally enforced, and that disputes are settled by an independent judiciary. This textbook definition is in contrast with many Americans’ lived experiences. For some people in the United States, particularly the most marginalized, rule of law has always been in crisis.

Though the term “rule of law” may rarely be mentioned in state standards, its concepts are embedded in many social studies courses. Fundamental rights, limiting and balancing government power, and an open and transparent government are just a few of these concepts. 

These Street Law-designed lessons and resources are designed for flexibility and ease of use. The seven core lessons and 28 extensions have been designed with middle and high school social studies teachers in mind, for courses ranging from U.S. history to civics and law to global studies. 

Like all Street Law resources, these materials have been designed to prioritize student-centered pedagogy, where much of the cognitive load of the lesson is on students. In particular, these rule of law lessons place rule of law concepts in the context of students’ lived experiences and identities, along with the lived experiences and identities of others. 

By participating in these lessons, students should be able to:

  • increase their understanding of rule of law concepts and their relation to the health of U.S. democracy,

  • analyze strengths and weaknesses of rule of law in the United States,

  • describe how rule of law may be experienced differently by individuals from different backgrounds, and

  • improve civic skills and attitudes.

Additional details:

  • Format: This curriculum is available in Google Docs. The link will be shared once you complete the "check out" process.* (You must create an account and "check out" to download free resources. You will not be required to provide payment information.)
  • © 2022 Street Law, Inc. Free for non-commercial educational use. Permissions questions? Email [email protected]
  • Learn more about Street Law's commitment and approach to quality curriculum.
  • This curriculum was developed as part of Street Law’s Rule of Law for All project, generously funded by the 2021 Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics Award granted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania.

*Why Do I Have to “Check Out”? We require users to go through a “check out” process when accessing all materials from our Free Resource Library. This allows us to better understand the reach of our materials and to communicate with you about resource updates and other relevant Street Law news (if you give us permission to email you). We respect your privacy and handle all personal information in accordance with the following privacy policy.

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