How Laws Are Made Have you ever wondered why your parents drive on the right-hand side of the road? It’s because we have laws that tell them to do so. Here you’ll learn all about how laws are made including who gets to make them. Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government California - Your Idea Becomes a Law Kids in the House

Government Sites

Architect of the Capitol - Just for Kids - Learn about the Capitol building in Washington DC and the new Capitol Visitor Center.

Career Voyages - (Department of Labor) - Do you know what you want to be when you grow up? What job do you think you would like? At this fantastic website, you’ll learn all about different jobs, their pay and growth prospects, and how to prepare for them.

Court Reporter - Court reporters make word-for-word reports of court cases, meetings, speeches, and other events. Court reporters play a critical role in legal proceedings. They are expected to create a complete and accurate legal record.

High School Resources - (Foreign Service Institute) - Check out the links on this site, which includes information on different countries, Foreign Service teens, Digital Diaries, and World News.

Judge - Judges are in charge of trials. They make sure that trials are fair. They resolve differences between lawyers. They read the law to decide what lawyers can and can't do.

Middle School Stuff - (Foreign Service Institute) - This site has links to great places, like true stories from Foreign Service kids, 'A Day in the Life' of kids from several countries, and the Shy Kids Guide to Making Friends.

Police Officer - Police and detectives enforce laws. They catch criminals. They collect evidence. At times they testify in court. Others patrol set areas to prevent crime. Some patrol and give out traffic tickets. Some police direct traffic. Most police wear uniforms. Detectives and special agents work in regular clothes. Most detectives are part of regular police forces. Special agents work for Federal and State agencies.

Politician - (Bureau of Labor Statistics) - Politicians run Federal, State, and local governments; they are the Nation's chief executives and legislators. They get their jobs by being elected. They make and pass laws that affect all of us.

Other Resources

Our Courts - 21st Century Civics - Our Courts is a free, interactive, web-based program designed to teach you civics and inspire you to be active participants in our democracy.

Page Revised - 10/30/2009