Learn the Law: The Archaeological Resources Protection Act

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Subject: Social Studies Lesson Duration: 60 Minutes Thinking Skills: Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Analyzing: Break down a concept or idea into parts and show the relationships among the parts. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.

Essential Question

What is the Archaeological Resources Protection Act? How do you read a law?

Objective

Students will learn about the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 and how to read a federal law.

Background

Learning how to read a federal law is an important skill for Americans to know. This lesson plan will guide your class through the anatomy of a federal law, using the example of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA).

The Antiquities Act of 1906 was the first law in the United States to protect archaeological sites and collections. Over time, Americans realized that the law needed more specific language and a penalty for improper excavation of archaeological resources. As a result, the U.S. Congress passed a new law, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, in 1979. Congress amended ARPA in 1988 and 1995.

ARPA strengthened the permitting procedures required for conducting archaeological fieldwork on federal lands, originally mandated by the Antiquities Act. It also establishes more rigorous fines and penalties for unauthorized excavation on federal land.

Preparation

This lesson plan provides a basic framework for learning how to read a federal law and understanding why the Archaeological Resources Protection Act is important.

Use the information and questions as you'd like, in ways that work best for your students. You may copy and paste the sections and questions into sheets to be printed out, guide the class through group work, or use other techniques as you deem best.

Materials

Lesson Hook/Preview

Procedure

The Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) is a federal law that is codified (meaning, in the U.S. Code) at 16 U.S.C. §§470aa-470mm. "16 U.S.C" is its title, a section where all related laws are put. "1B" is its chapter, a.k.a. the law itself, within the title. "§§470aa-470mm" are sections (the § is the symbol for section) that provide details on what the law is about and how to carry it out. ARPA can be found at title 16, chapter 1B, sections 470aa-470mm. Let's find it!

Tour the structure of the U.S. Code:
Show students the U.S. Code title of contents . The U.S. Code is the official compilation of federal statutes - or laws - of the United States.

The USC contains 54 titles. What do each of these titles, or laws, have in common that might group them together? ARPA is at U.S. Code Title 16 - Conservation. Open Title 16 . What do the sections of Title 16 address?

Tour the Archaeological Resources Protection Act:
Find Chapter 1B - Archaeological Resources Protection . Work with the class as one group, small teams, or individuals to understand each section and the ways they work together.

Vocabulary

Archaeological resource: according to ARPA, "any material remains of past human life or activities which are of archaeological interest" at least 100 years of age

Code of Laws of the United States of America (also called the U.S. Code, the Code of Laws of the United States, United States Code, U.S.C., or USC)

U.S.C.: Abbreviation for "United States Code," or federal laws