What is the law for and how does it affect our everyday lives?
What law is and how it affects everyday life, why we need laws in society, and the ages at which we become legally responsible, including the age of criminal responsibility and why legal age limits exist.
A focused answer for Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies on what law is and how it affects everyday life, why we need laws in society, and the legal ages of responsibility, including the age of criminal responsibility.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
Have a quick question? Jump to the Q&A page
Jump to a section
What this dot point is asking
Edexcel wants you to explain what law is and how it affects everyday life, why society needs laws, and the ages at which people become legally responsible, including the age of criminal responsibility. This Theme C topic (Paper 1 Section C) is tested through "Explain" tasks on why we need laws and "Describe" tasks on legal ages and the age of criminal responsibility. The examiner rewards a clear set of reasons for law drawn from the specification, accurate examples of legal age limits, and the fact that the age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales is 10.
What law is and how it affects us
Unlike social rules or customs, laws are made by recognised authorities (mainly Parliament) and are backed by the power of the state, so breaking them can lead to legal consequences. Law touches almost every part of everyday life, often without us noticing: it governs buying goods and the rights of consumers, using the roads, renting or owning a home, going to work and being paid fairly, going to school, and being protected from violence and theft. Because law shapes daily life so widely, understanding it is part of being an informed citizen. Edexcel expects you to see law not as something remote but as a constant presence that orders everyday activities and protects people.
Why we need laws
The specification gives a clear list of reasons, and a strong answer draws on it. Laws protect people and property from harm by setting out and punishing offences such as assault and theft. They provide a peaceful way to settle disputes, through the courts, rather than by force. They promote fairness and prevent discrimination, supporting equality before the law. They aim to achieve justice, giving people redress when they are wronged. They can change behaviour, for example laws on seatbelts or smoking that protect health. And they respond to new situations, such as laws on the internet, data and new technology. Being able to give two or three of these reasons, developed with an example, is exactly what "Explain" tasks reward.
Legal ages and the age of criminal responsibility
Age limits recognise that people are ready for different rights and responsibilities at different ages, and they exist partly to protect young people from harm and from being held responsible before they are ready. Different activities have different minimum ages, for example the age to vote (18), to drive a car (17) and to work part-time (with limits) at a younger age. The age of criminal responsibility is especially important: in England and Wales a child under 10 cannot be charged with a criminal offence because they are considered too young to be fully responsible for their actions, while from 10 a child can be dealt with by the youth justice system. Knowing that this age is 10 in England and Wales, and why age limits exist, is regularly tested.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of Pearson Edexcel exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Edexcel 20194 marksExplain two reasons why a society needs laws.Show worked answer →
A Paper 1 Section C "Explain" task (AO1 and AO2). Develop two distinct reasons.
One reason is to protect people and property from harm: laws against violence and theft keep people safe and set out what is and is not allowed.
A second reason is to settle disputes fairly and to ensure people are treated fairly, including preventing discrimination, so that conflicts are resolved through the courts rather than by force, and justice is achieved.
Markers reward two developed reasons drawn from the specification list, such as protecting the public, settling disputes, ensuring fairness, achieving justice, changing behaviour or responding to new situations.
Edexcel 20213 marksDescribe what is meant by the age of criminal responsibility.Show worked answer →
A Paper 1 "Describe" task (AO1). One mark per developed point, up to three.
The age of criminal responsibility is the age at which a child can be held responsible in law for committing a crime. In England and Wales it is 10.
Below this age a child cannot be charged with a criminal offence, because they are considered too young to be fully responsible for their actions.
Markers reward the idea that it is the age at which someone can be charged with a crime, that in England and Wales it is 10, and the reason that younger children are not held fully responsible.
Related dot points
- The fundamental principles of law including the rule of law, the presumption of innocence, equality before the law and access to justice, the different legal systems in the UK, and the main sources of law: common law and legislation.
A focused answer for Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies on the fundamental principles of law (the rule of law, the presumption of innocence, equality before the law and access to justice), the different UK legal systems, and the main sources of law: common law and legislation.
- The purposes of criminal law, used to protect the public from harm such as crimes against a person or property, and the purposes of civil law, to settle disputes such as debt, personal injury and family matters.
A focused answer for Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies on the purposes of criminal law, used to protect the public from harm, and the purposes of civil law, used to settle disputes such as debt, personal injury and family matters.
- The roles and powers of the police, judges, magistrates and legal representatives, the roles of citizens such as jurors, magistrates and special constables, and the rights of citizens on arrest.
A focused answer for Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies on the roles and powers of the police, judges, magistrates and legal representatives, the roles of citizens such as jurors and magistrates, and the rights of citizens on arrest.
- The operation of the youth justice system and how and why youth courts differ from other courts.
A focused answer for Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies on the operation of the youth justice system and how and why youth courts differ from adult courts, including their focus on the welfare of the young person.
- Factors affecting crime rates including the recording of crime and reoffending, strategies to reduce crime through prevention, protection and punishment, and the types and purposes of sentences such as prison, community payback and restorative justice.
A focused answer for Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies on factors affecting crime rates and reoffending, strategies to reduce crime, and the types and purposes of sentences such as prison, community payback and restorative justice.
Sources & how we know this
- Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Citizenship Studies (1CS0) specification — Pearson Edexcel (2022)