Teaching the Rule of Law and Law Day
Ask students: What is the rule of law? Why is it important that we have a rule of law? What is the supreme law of the land?
Did you know, annually, the United States recognizes May 1 as Law Day? Law Day was established in 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower after the American Bar Association (ABA) had presented the idea a year earlier. The day was codified on April 7, 1961, with the passage of Joint Resolution 87-20 by Congress. On Law Day we reflect on and recognize the role that law plays in our society.
Watch the video below on the rule of law from the United States Courts and answer the discussion questions.
Discussion Questions
- What is the rule of law?
- Why is it important that we have a rule of law?
- What is the supreme law of the land?
- What are some examples mentioned in the video of the rule of law in action?
- What do you think our society would look like if there was no rule of law in place?
- Is anyone in the U.S. above the rule of law? What about the president?
Extension Activity
The Supreme Court plays an essential role in helping maintain the rule of law. The United States Courts has put together a case summaries analysis activity so students can explore how SCOTUS rulings maintain it. Find the case summaries and discussion questions here: https://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/rule-law
Dive Deeper
Each year, the American Bar Association (ABA) selects a theme for Law Day to help guide reflection and learning. The 2026 theme, “The Rule of Law and the American Dream,” invites students to explore how the rule of law supports the opportunities and freedoms that shape our individual and collective aspirations. As ABA President Michelle A. Behnke shared, while the American Dream may look different for each person—whether it’s personal security, economic opportunity, or social equality—it is rooted in the rule of law. Law Day serves not only as a celebration of our liberties, but also as a reminder that the law belongs to all of us, and that we each play a role in protecting and advancing it. This theme offers a meaningful opportunity for students to reflect on how the rule of law helps make their own goals and dreams possible.
Have your students dive in deeper to this theme with these resources:
- Street Law’s Rule of Law for All curriculum
- Albert Shanker Institute Civics Fellow Johanna Josaphat's Civics Lesson: Right to Vote
- Albert Shanker Institute Civics Fellow Franco Scardino's The First Amendment Protections of Free Speech
- The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United State’s Senate’s Civic Conversations: Who am I? Who are we? Lesson plan
Originally posted May 1, 2023.
The Supreme Court: Balancing the Branches Lesson Plans
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Megan Ortmeyer is an SML Team Member and has worked in the AFT Educational Issues Department since fall 2018. She received her M.A. in education policy studies in May 2020 from the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at the George Washington University. Prior to working at the AFT,... See More
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