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Year 10

Who enforces the law?

I can explain the roles of a range of different people involved in enforcing the law and evaluate the significance of their roles.

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New
New
Year 10

Who enforces the law?

I can explain the roles of a range of different people involved in enforcing the law and evaluate the significance of their roles.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Law enforcement refers to the people/groups that make sure everyone follows the laws in society.
  2. Many people and organisations in England and Wales play a role in enforcing the law within the justice system.
  3. Each group plays a key role in law enforcement; removing any would disrupt the system's efficiency.

Keywords

  • Law - rules, usually made by Parliament, that are used to order the way in which a society behaves

  • Enforcement - the act of making sure rules, laws or agreements are followed or carried out

  • Role - refers to the function or responsibility that someone or something has in a particular situation, system or organisation

Common misconception

Only the police enforce the law.

The police play a key role in enforcing the law, however, they are not the only ones involved. Other groups, like magistrates, judges, the CPS, and lawyers, all have important roles in making sure laws are followed and justice is served.


To help you plan your year 10 citizenship lesson on: Who enforces the law?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use real-life examples and activities like role-playing or group projects to help pupils explore the roles in law enforcement. Compare the responsibilities of police, magistrates, and lawyers to characters in a story, making the concept more relatable, showing how they work together.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a law?
Correct answer: rules that are used to order the way in which a society behaves
people living together in an ordered community
a rule you only have to follow at home
a responsibility that someone or something has in a particular situation
Q2.
Which branch of the separated powers make laws?
Correct answer: legastlitive
executive
judiciary
Q3.
What colour paper is being described in the law making process: A government consultation document that lets people give feedback on proposed law?
Correct Answer: green
Q4.
What is the final stage of the law making process?
Correct Answer: Royal Assent
Q5.
What is a law known as during the proposal phase?
An act
A law
Correct answer: A bill
Q6.
Match the word to its correct definition.
Correct Answer:society,people living together in an ordered community
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people living together in an ordered community

Correct Answer:Government ,the group of people with the authority to govern a country
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the group of people with the authority to govern a country

Correct Answer:Parliament ,has three parts: the House of Commons, the House of Lords, the monarch
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has three parts: the House of Commons, the House of Lords, the monarch

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these is the odd one out?
laws
Correct answer: judges
courts
police
Q2.
What does CPS stand for?
Courts Prosecution System
Crown Prosecuting System
Correct answer: Crown Prosecution Service
Q3.
How many adults form a jury?
Correct Answer: 12, Twelve
Q4.
Which group creates and reviews laws?
Police
Correct answer: Parliament
CPS
Jury
Barristers
Q5.
Match the description to the law enforcer.
Correct Answer:magistrate,they handle smaller or less serious cases than judges
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they handle smaller or less serious cases than judges

Correct Answer:solicitor,help enforce the law by giving legal advice
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help enforce the law by giving legal advice

Correct Answer:barrister,are legal experts trained to speak in all types of courts
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are legal experts trained to speak in all types of courts

Correct Answer:judge,interpret the law, preside over court cases and give sentences
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interpret the law, preside over court cases and give sentences

Q6.
How does the involvement of multiple groups impact law enforcement and what might happen if one group is removed?
Correct answer: Removing any group disrupts the system's effectiveness.
Fewer groups would improve efficiency by reducing personnel.
The roles of groups are interchangeable, so removal has no impact.
Reducing groups would simplify the system and increase efficiency.