Good rules are fair. Good rules state the penalty for disobeying Good rules can be enforced. A good rule indicates who is expected to obey it, whether individuals or groups. A good rule is in keeping with other laws. Obeying one law should not put us in the position of disobeying another.
Good rules have no vague or ambiguous words.
The best rules are written in plain English. A good rule defines any word that might be misunderstood either because it could have more than one meaning, or because it is an uncommon word. In order to appreciate these criteria, students are given a sample law to discuss. First, they are asked to be judge of behaviours in light of a particular law. In the discussion following their decision, they should explore the problems they encountered in enforcing the law.