Reasons for laws

• Establish boundaries for acceptable behaviour and determine which actions wont be tolerated (murder, assault)

• protection of citizens from themselves and others (drink driving)

• freedom through telling people what they can do (driving, marriage)

• resolving disputes - without any laws, society would be in a state of anarchy.

What makes a good law?

• fairness and justice - community will no accept them otherwise

• clarity - the intention must be obvious

• known and published - advertising campaigns can also help people understand

• enforceability - pointless to have a law which cannot be enforced.

• stability - laws change too often people would be confused

• reflects society - laws should often reflect the values of society

• anarchy disorder or confusion due to absence of government or laws.