A strong case can be made that the study of law, properly conceived as a resource to enrich civics as a branch of social science, is the broader study of the role of law in the social order. Study about law provides a unique opportunity for: (1) addressing what has historically been a neglected, pervasive daily influence on us all; (2) analyzing important humanistic notions that are especially law related; (3) enhancing a sense of, and capacity for, civic efficacy; (4) enriching other civics-related disciplines; and (5) sharpening certain intellectual skills. The legal content for a more effective civics curriculum should contain materials about law, not necessarily the study of particular laws. It should be studied in the context of the social necessity of law, with the realization that law is more than mere rules. The functions of the legal system should be investigated as to the variety of legal mechanisms or tools within society. The evaluation of legal processes should be qualitative, and not rest solely on the outcomes of the legal processes, but on those processes themselves. A realistic understanding of the law's capacity and limits, when combined with a positive skepticism born of an informed understanding, will result in today's students having the necessary skills to effectively cope with the issues of citizenship in the 21st Century. (PPB)