The Rule of Law In this activity, you will answer the following questions to exa

The Rule of Law
In this activity, you will answer the following questions to examine and evaluate the importance of The Rule of Law. Write your responses to these questions in a document PDF. Upload your document to the dropbox to submit your assignment.
1. What is the Rule of Law? Why is it important for society and how does it create order for our nation?
2. In this unit, we reviewed several examples of individuals and groups who believed the Rule of Law did not apply to them.Answer the following questions about these individuals and groups:
Provide two historical or modern examples of when there was an absence or breakdown of the Rule of Law. Describe the event, who was involved and what happened.
What was the result? What damaging impact did these people have on their nations/society? What ended up happening to these people who went above the rule of law?
3. Why is the Rule of Law important for protecting you, your family and your community?
Refer to the rubric below to see how you will be graded.
Category
Does Not Meet Yet (0-59)
Emerging Expectations (60-75)
Meets Expectations
(76-89)
Exceeds Expectations
(90-100)
#1 What the rule of law is and why it is important. (25%)
Does not provide a clear statement of what the Rule of Law is and may or may not include their position on the topic.
The author attempts to provide a clear statement of what the Rule of Law is and may or may not include their position on the topic.
Provides a clear statement of what the Rule of Law is and the author’s position on the topic.
Provides a clear, strong statement of what the Rule of Law is and the author’s position on the topic.
#2 Examples (25%)
Less than two examples are given. The evidence and examples may not be specific and/or relevant.
Less than two historical or modern examples may be present. Evidence and examples may be less specific and/or relevant..
Two historical or modern examples are provided. All of the evidence and examples are specific and relevant.
At least two strong historical or modern examples are provided. All of the evidence and examples are specific and relevant.
#2 Result
(25%)
Provides less than two consequences that occurred when the rule of law wasn’t being enforced. Supportive facts may not be included, specific and/or may not be reported accurately.
Provides less than two consequences that occurred when the rule of law wasn’t being enforced. Supportive facts attempt to explain the consequences.
Provides two consequences that occurred when the rule of law wasn’t being enforced. Supportive facts explain the consequences.
Provides two or more consequences that occurred when the rule of law wasn’t being enforced. Supportive facts explain the consequences and are reported accurately.
#3 Why is the Rule of Law important? (25%)
Little or no attempt was made to explain the importance of the Rule of Law. May or may not include supporting evidence and the protective aspects of personal, family and/or community.
Attempts to explain the importance of the Rule of Law. Includes some supporting evidence and the protective aspects of personal, family and/or community.
The response includes supporting evidence highlighting the protective aspects of personal, family and community
Strong response explaining the importance of the Rule of Law with relevant supporting evidence highlighting the protective aspects of personal, family and community
LESSON: So, what is this called when all people, citizens and government officials alike, all support and follow the same laws and regulations of the Constitution? Rule of Law.
Rule of Law means that no one is above the law and all people, even the president, judges and congressmen must live under the same rules and laws that everyone else does. When political officials are sworn into office, they are swearing to uphold the Constitution and to follow the laws and restrictions bound to them. This is very significant because without this policy, it would lead to dictators, like Hitler or Stalin, who saw themselves as above the law. In this unit we will study court cases that establish and maintain the Rule of Law and the Supreme Law of the Land. We will also will investigate the consequences when the Rule of Law breaks down or is not upheld.
Watch this short video about the Rule of Law:
Article VI, Clause II
“This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.”
The excerpt above is taken out of the U.S. Constitution itself and is referred to as the Supremacy Clause. It states that the Constitution is the highest law in the land. That no other law is more important or powerful than it. That means, that laws made at the state level may not interfere or violate the US Constitution. This is called Constitutional Supremacy. Constitutional Supremacy is vital to the functioning of the nation because otherwise every state would constantly be undermining the federal authority and there would never be an absolute truth or law in the land. States and citizens can challenge and change the Constitution, thus giving the power to the people. But in the end, the US Constitution is the final say in all legal activity. That is why the Supreme Court has the final say as they are interpreting a case and whether it is in violation of the law in relation to the US Constitution.So where did this idea of Constitutional Supremacy come from? Watch the video below to determine the event that changed how our nation viewed the Constitution. Be sure to pay close attention to the events of this case and the courts decisions that will shape the future of America!
Think about the following questions as you watch:
What was the court case originally about?
Why did it end up being way more significant than it originally was intended to be?
What did Chief Justice Marshall establish as a result of this case?
Marbury v. Madison: