Week 2: Fill in your diary to include the following details

Week Two: Revision of Concept 6: Law

Laws are rules and regulations written to make society fair and equal.

If the law is broken there are punishments.

Law protects rights of individuals and protects the rights of people….based on fairness.

Laws vary from country to country….not the same…different societies different laws.

Ireland: different groups shape democracy.


Where do our laws come from?

·        Brehon Laws….celtic times…17th century

·        English law still the basis for our law

·        Following independence….1937 Irish Constitution

·        All laws in Ireland must comply with the Constitution

·        The Oireachtas is the home of the law in Ireland

·        Law are passed as Bills….proposed by government or opposition.


5 stages of passing a bill:

1) Bill is proposed

2) All members discuss and object to bill

3) A number of committees examine bill and change if needed

4) More amendments may be made based on committee reports

5) Final contents of bill debated

The Judiciary

When a judge makes a decision in court it becomes law and all other judges refer to it in other cases.  This is known as common law.