The Rule of Law and You

Audio Transcription

This exhibit gives examples of how the rule of law impacts you. The rule of law starts with the Constitution and reaches deep into everyday life: on the road, on the job, in school, and at home. You can even find evidence of the rule of law in common objects around you, from stoplights to dog collars. TRAFFIC LAW — RULES OF THE ROAD Down the street from your house, the stoplight at the first intersection is out, and you think, "This is going to be chaos." There is quite a bit of traffic, but drivers are taking turns moving through the intersection, even when two arrive at the same time. You wait for a moment, expecting someone to zoom through, but no one does. Traffic laws dictate that a broken stoplight is treated like a four-way stop, and these drivers are obeying the law. There is a traffic light as part of this panel. PROPERTY LAW — NICE FIDO Your neighbor has a big dog and a fence around the yard to keep him in. Most of the time the dog is quiet, until you step out into your side yard. Then he charges the fence—barking and baring his teeth. He follows you along the fence—snapping his jaws—and then calms down. Until the next time. Talking to your neighbor doesn't seem to help. So you file a lawsuit and a court helps you to resolve your dispute. This panel has a photo of a grey dog, blurry in motion with its teeth bared. A leash and collar are also present. CONTRACTS — MY APARTMENT IS MY CASTLE After looking for months, you find the perfect apartment. The landlord offers you a two-year lease and you sign it, pay the security deposit, pay the first and last month's rent, and move in. Six months later, although you have abided by the terms of your lease, you receive a notice that the landlord wants you to move out. The law says that the landlord is obligated to honor the terms of your lease. This panel has a picture of a young man sitting barefoot and cross legged in a chair. A Lego apartment building is also part of this exhibit. FAMILY LAW — THE GREATER GOOD Your parents are getting a divorce. You love them both very much and you are worried that you won't be able to have a relationship with both parents. Fortunately, the court will help your parents ensure that your best interests are protected. There is a photo of a mother holding both her daughter and son's hands. A teddy bear and security blanket round out this part of the exhibit. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW — RIGHTS VERSUS RIGHTS Your class is taking a field trip to the Ralph L. Carr Colorado Judicial Center and encounters a large group in front of the building protesting a recent court decision. Protestors have the right to peacefully proclaim their beliefs. You also have the right to get into the building. There is a photo of a protest march with thousands of people moving down the street holding signs with slogans on them. There is a bullhorn in the display case next to this photo.