CUSTOMS, RULES AND
LAW
Customs
• Established patterns of behaviour amoung people in
society or group.
• Customs vary depending on culture, religion and history.
• Customary Law – Customs may become apart of law of
that society, but not all.
• Three areas of Customary Law that has influenced the
Australian Legal system are:
• Aborigional and Torres Strait Islander customary law
• English customary law
• International customary law
• Most customary law is never written down.
Customs
• TASK:
• Make a list of unique customs from your own country.
• State whether these customs are reflected in you home countries
laws
Rules
• Prescribed directions for conduct in certain situations.
• Made to only affect certain groups of society.
• Rules are easily altered to adapt to changing situations.
Rules
• TASK
• Complete a set of rules for the following three examples:
• Household Rules
• School Rules
• Social Etiquette
Laws
• Look after all members of society, therefore are fair, just and
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•
•
•
•
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equitable
Expected to reflect traditional and current ethics and values
These ‘Legal rules’ decided upon by a group and governs their
behaviour and activities
Prohibit and allow a variety of activities
Failure to comply with these regulations incurs consequence
(penalties), ranging from a fine to imprisonment
In Australia, laws are usually decided upon by elected
government officials at local, state or federal government levels
Judges also have power to set laws in certain cases when set
a precedent
Laws
• TASK
• Create a table to compare the differences between rules and laws
Laws
Rules
To be obeyed by all citizens
of a society
To be obeyed by specific
individuals or groups
Made by a law-making body Made by individuals or
groups
Enforced through the courts
Enforced by leaders of a
group
Consequences of a breach
results in a prescribed
sanction imposed by the
courts
Consequences of a breach
at the discretion of the
leader of a group
Relationship between customs, rules and
laws
• TASK
• Write a paragraph summarising the previous slides. Describe the
relationship between customs, rules and laws.
VALUES & ETHICS
Individuals values – what we believe to be morally right
Voice values and ethics in a public manner to attempt to influence the legal system
E.g. The Mardi Gras (Sydney) – Started as a protest march against treatment of same-sex couples by
the legal system
Mardi Grass (Nimbin, NSW) – attempts to influence government to relax laws relating to the use and
cultivation of marijuana
Law – Attempting to incorporate individuals core values and ethics into law making