THE COURSE IS AN ELECTIVE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STUDIES COURSE FOR SEVENTH THROUGH NINTH GRADERS WHO READ AT OR ABOVE THE SIXTH-GRADE LEVEL. THE COURSE'S PURPOSE IS TO PROMOTE STUDENT KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORKINGS OF THE U.S. CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS IT APPLIES TO CONSUMER LAW. IT IS ALSO DESIGNED TO AID STUDENT IDENTIFICATION OF CONSUMER FRAUDS, THEIR CAUSES AND EFFECTS, SOCIETY'S RESPONSE TO CONSUMER LAW VIOLATIONS, AND THE INDIVIDUAL'S ROLE IN EFFECTING POSITIVE CHANGE. COURSE TOPICS INCLUDE THE CONSTITUTION, THE LAW, THE CONSUMER, CIVIL LAW, LEGAL ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL RIGHTS, ADVERTISING AND OTHER APPEALS TO CONSUMERS, COMMON CONSUMER PROBLEMS, AND THE COST OF CONSUMER LAW ENFORCEMENT. A SUMMARY OF EACH CONCEPT IS ACCOMPANIED BY LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND SPECIFIC ORAL AND WRITTEN EXERCISES DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE THOSE OBJECTIVES. EACH EXERCISE'S LEVEL OF DIFFICULT (BELOW AVERAGE TO AVERAGE AND AVERAGE TO ABOVE AVERAGE) IS NOTED TO ENABLE THE TEACHER TO CHOOSE THE ACTIVITIES MOST SUITABLE FOR THE CLASS. THE COURSE IS PART OF A PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY THE LAW EDUCATION GOALS AND LEARNINGS (LEGAL) PROJECT OPERATED BY THE DADE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD AND FUNDED UNDER TITLE IV OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT. THE PROGRAM GOAL IS TO DEVELOP STUDENT UNDERSTANDING AND SKILLS RELATED TO THE CRIMINAL AND CIVIL (CONSUMER) JUSTICE SYSTEMS. A LIST OF PRINTED AND AUDIOVISUAL RESOURCES, PHOTOCOPIES OF ARTICLES FROM NEWS MEDIA, AND AN ANNOTATED APPENDIX PROVIDING ADDITIONAL CLASS EXERCISES, ARE INCLUDED. FOR THE OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE LEGAL PROGRAM FOR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, SEE NCJ 62128 AND 62130-62139. (CFW)