Municipalities Matter

Competing interests must be taken into account when creating local bylaws. Knowing the process to make bylaws is necessary to advocate for change. This knowledge will help students better understand how to take action in their community.

Suggested Curriculum Links

This lesson focuses on the evolution of a piece of legislation. As such, this lesson can achieve most of the Indicators in the following Outcome:

• Power and Authority 8.3.

Procedure

1. Engage the class in a discussion about current “hot button” topics. Preferably narrow the discussion to an issue that falls within the jurisdiction of municipal government. Use this discussion to demonstrate how a diverse society has competing needs, thus requiring real understanding of opposing viewpoints and consensus-building in order for society to be effectively governed.

2. Read The Nuts and Bolts: Local Council Meetings.
KEY QUESTION

• Why is it essential that the public be allowed to observe and speak at council meetings?

To better understand the proceedings of a council meeting, teachers may wish to organize a class trip to watch a municipal council meeting, or view a recording of the most recent council meeting.

3. Either research and present a local issue which has been the subject of a bylaw passed by council, or assign students to do the same. For guiding the discussion, consider:

• When was the bylaw passed?
• What was the motivation for enacting the bylaw?
• What purpose does the bylaw intend to fulfill?
• What are the penalties for violating the bylaw? Are they fair?
• How do local people feel about the issue and how the bylaw addresses it?
• Does this bylaw enhance the common good of the community? If so, how?

4. To evaluate student understanding of this (or any other) bylaw, assign A Day in the Life of… A Creative Writing Activity. This may make a good cross-curricular project with English Language Arts.

Further Exploration
5. As a supplemental activity for exploring the purpose of a bylaw, check out the activity No Vehicles in the Park.