About Law: An Introduction by Honoré, T.
, Aims of law
1. Making society more stable
2. Enabling people to flourish
3. Provide facilities
4. Settle disputes
5. Settle what the system of government is to be
Who makes law?
1. Parliament
2. The government, administrative organs and agencies
3. Courts
Parliament – bills and statutes
The government, administrative organs and agencies – regulation and decisions
Courts – case law
Court = one or more judges with jurisdiction to hear and decide a dispute
Jurisdiction = the right of a court to head and decide a case
Right = a person’s interest that must be respected by other people and by the state
Regulation = a legal rule made by the executive, a rule creating a minor crime
State = a political unit with a territory that the international; community treats as
independent
Legislature = branches of the state, which makes new laws and cancels or repeals old laws
Repeal = revoke a law
Executive government = put laws into effect
Judges = decide disputes about the law
Aims of international law
1. Stability
2. Encouragement of trade and other contracts between states
Short term: threat of punishment
Long-term: morality and self-interest
Why not every morality is a law
1. Give people freedom
2. Laws are expensive