by Danette M. Scott

Created on: April 14, 2008

Rules and regulations are necessary to the function of any society because if they didn't exist there would be anarchy and chaos. If mankind had the ability to be trustworthy and practice the art of self control, there would be no need for rules and regulations to be placed on people.

People not only find ways to harm each other in societies that exist without rules, but they harm themselves as well usually out of ignorance or arrogance. Respect is a key word related to the importance of rules and regulations. Laws, are enacted by communities to protect its citizens from harm. In democratic societies, laws are supposedly written to protect the individual freedoms of its people. Respect is neccessary between people in order for laws to work. When people behave with repect toward one another they do not harm each other. Without respect for others, people would not obey laws and lawlessness would exist.

Not all laws are moral or based on the idea of morality. One example of this may be the Jim Crowe laws enforced in the Southern United States during the 1960's. These laws prevented blacks or African Americans from having the same rights, priveledges, and opportunities as white Americans. New laws enacted after the civil rights movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King helped to change the Jim Crowe laws and end segregation.

In a democracy it is important that all voting citizens ensure that laws enacted by the cities, the states, and the Federal Government adhere to the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. Laws that are made only for the few will work for no one. Americans do not wish to live in a lawless society. It is the civil right and duty of every citizen of the United States to participate in the democractic process in order to ensure that laws serve the majority of the citizens and not a priveledged few because of race, religion, affiliations, or sex.

The American experiment in democracy provides for laws bith on the national and state levels. Our laws should allow for equal rights under the law for every citizen. Americans want civil liberties, just laws, and fair laws, not anarchy or lawlessness.

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