World of Rules

A rule is a guideline for behavior. It is meant to manage the way a person acts or does something. For example, there are rules in the game of baseball. These rules tell baseball players how to play the game of baseball. They tell the players what they can and cannot do. Rules may be written or unwritten. They may also be started by habit or custom. For example, it is a rule in my house that we must eat dinner, at the table, together. We cannot watch television while eating. This is a family custom or habit.

Good rules are helpful, and bad rules are sometimes confusing. For example, ‘Do not run in the swimming pool area’ is a good rule because it protects people from getting hurt. ‘Be friends with everyone in class’ is not a good rule because it is not reasonable to order friendships. How will a teacher know if students are actually friends? Also, should there be a punishment for people who are not friends? What makes these rules good or bad?

Look at the chart below.

Guidelines for Good Rules

A. Rules should be clear and easy to understand. B. People should be able to do what the rules say. C. Rules should not conflict with other rules. D. Rules should be enforceable. E. There should be a penalty for breaking rules. F. Rules should be explained to people or written in a place where everyone can see them.

Many places in your community have rules. In shopping malls, for example, people are not allowed to run or play loud radio music. What is the purpose of these rules? Can you think of other places where there are rules? What are some other rules? Why do you think these rules were made?

Laws are rules which are set and enforced by a government. They protect people and help people get along with each other. Laws are written by the government for the entire community. They are out in a code or law book. Every town or city has laws. Imagine what community would be like without laws. What might happen in a community where there are no laws?

Look at the chart below. What is the difference between a rule and a law?

Rules	Laws
A rule is a guideline for conduct or action. Rules may be written or unwritten. They may be started by habit, custom, or written guideline.	A law is written by the government.
A rule is enforced by the people who make the rule.	A law is enforced by the police, sheriff, state patrol, FBI, etc. These groups are called law enforcement.
If you break a rule, you can lose privileges.	If you break the law, you can be punished by the government, lose privileges or money, and go to jail.

14. Speak about the following items:

1. What is law?

2. Kinds of law.

15. Write a mini-composition for or against the following statement ‘However hard people try, laws are always insufficient’.