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Friday 13 September 2019

How Do Bills Become Laws?

For the last week in social studies we have been learning about parliament and we've also learnt seven key concepts that are relevant to laws and law making. The seven key concepts we've learnt are lobby,petition,bill,reading,select committee,submission and act. These words have a few meanings but the definition that is relevant to the topic we have been studying are the ones that have to do with politics,laws and other things to do with the parliament. And just in case you were confused as to which meanings are linked with these words here are the definitions we were taught and have been memorising.
  • Lobby - When you try to convince or persuade someone into agreeing with what you want to change in your community.
  • Petition - a document signed by members of parliament that shows that they all agree to changing something for the better of the country.
  • Bill - a draft law.
  • Reading - a debate held to make sure that they are making the right decision by making that certain law official.
  • Select committee - when a member from each political parties gathers together for an important purpose whether it's debating about a law or discussing issues that are very important.
  • Submission - When you present your ideas and opinions to the committee and you can present it to them by writing it on paper or presenting it to them in person.
  • Act - When a bill is proposed to become an official law or it is when they choose to make a new law which changes an existing law.
I enjoyed learning about parliament and how laws are made and I've learnt that the government are not so bad after all because after I've learnt about how parliament works and how it is run I appreciate that a group of people are dedicated to their country and their people and most of all their safety so just a reminder to everyone follow the laws because they were made for a reason and that reason was to ensure that we are all safe and happy kiwis. 

Monday 2 September 2019

Learning About NZ Laws

Today in social studies we learnt about the laws and the legal ages to do certain things in New Zealand.

Did you know that the legal age for adopting a child that you are not related to is 25 and the legal age for adopting a child that you are related to is 20 years old. This law is interesting to me because I hadn't really thought of the legal age to adopt a child. Before learning about this law I just thought that you could adopt after the age of 18. 

We also learnt about our gun laws and we learnt that the government is starting to ban certain guns such as firearms. The government have started to ban guns because of the outcome of the Christchurch shooting. I believe that guns shouldn't be banned because guns are only dangerous when it's in the wrong hands but in the right hand's they are safely used.

After learning about the laws and legal ages to do things we should all be good citizens and follow the laws because they were made for a reason which was to protect us and keep us all safe.