IN BOTH ITS CONTENT AND ITS LANGUAGE, THE TEXT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE YOUNG READER'S EXPERIENCE, INTERESTS, CONCERNS, AND LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE. FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS ABOUT LAWS--WHY THEY ARE NECESSARY, WHY THEY CHANGE, WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THEM--ARE ADDRESSED. A CHAPTER ON THE HISTORY AND STRUCTURE OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES EXPLAINS HOW LAWS ARE MADE AND INTERPRETED, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LAW AND BETWEEN STATE AND LOCAL LAWS, HOW CASES REACH THE COURTS, THE STRUCTURE OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURT SYSTEMS, AND HOW JUDGES ARE SELECTED. A DISCUSSION OF THE MEANING OF CITIZENSHIP TOUCHES ON MATTERS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO YOUTHS, SUCH AS CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE, THE CONCEPT OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY, AND STUDENT VOICE IN SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION. OTHER CHAPTERS DEAL WITH MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE; PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND THE LAW; THE FAMILY AND GOVERNMENT; CIVIL LAW (CONTRACTS, PROPERTY, TORTS); JUVENILE COURTS; THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; THE SCHOOL AND THE LAW; DRIVING; YOUTH IN THE BUSINESS WORLD (CREDIT, BANKING, TAXES, EMPLOYMENT, ETC.); AND HIRING A LAWYER. THE TEXT, WHICH MAY BE ADAPTED FOR CLASSROOM USE, INCLUDES A GLOSSARY AND AN INDEX. (LKM)