A DISCUSSION OF THE EFFECTS OF LAWS, COURTS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ON INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS IS FOLLOWED BY A BRIEF HISTORY OF TRADITIONS WHICH VIEW CHILDREN AS PROPERTY OR AS NEEDING PROTECTION. STATE LAWS AGREE THAT PARENTS MUST GIVE CHILDREN FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER, AND OTHER NECESSITIES, AND IN RETURN CHILDREN OWE THEM OBEDIENCE AND ANY WAGES EARNED. THESE TOPICS ARE EXAMINED IN DETAIL, AS WELL AS MEDICAL CARE, EDUCATION, INHERITANCE, ABUSE, AND LAWSUITS. LEGAL OBLIGATIONS TO PARENTS WHO ARE DIVORCED, STEPPARENTS, ADOPTIVE, OR NOT MARRIED ARE DETAILED. THE SECTION ON COMMUNITY FOCUSES ON LAWS AFFECTING MINORS SUCH AS SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, RIGHT TO WORK, MARRIAGE, VOTING, DRIVING, LEGAL CONTRACTS, AND PURCHASING LIQUOR, TOBACCO, OR PORNOGRAPHY. THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF EMANCIPATED MINORS ARE EXAMINED. SITUATIONS WHEN MEDICAL CARE CAN BE GIVEN WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT ARE LISTED. THE DISCUSSION ON EDUCATION DESCRIBES THE RIGHT TO ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOL AND THE APPLICATION OF FIRST AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO SCHOOLS. YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ADVISED ON METHODS TO HANDLE SUSPECTED DISCRIMINATION, SUSPENSION, SEARCHES, EXPULSION, AND SCHOOL RECORDS. THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS EXAMINED WITH REFERENCE TO DELINQUENTS, STATUS OFFENDERS, POLICE SEARCHES, LEGAL PROCESSES FOLLOWING ARREST, AND PLACEMENT IN AN INSTITUTION. PHOTOGRAPHS AND CASE EXAMPLES ARE USED THROUGHOUT THE TEXT. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN CHARTS SUMMARIZING STATE LAWS ON MINORS. A BRIEF ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (MJM)