In this summary we will dive deep on each of these topics. They inlude definitions of the words and give useful
examples to help you better runderstand the topic. The topics we will discuss in this summary are:
- What is law?
- Law and other social norms
- Legal sources
- Legal systems and legal families
- Public and private law
- National and international law
- Branches of law
- Introduction into national public law
- Constitutional law
- Administrative and criminal law
- Is law a burden?
- Is law a panacea?
What is law?
Origin and definition of the law
o Natural law approach: law is made for humans just like for other animals by nature or by God; law is a
set of inherent values that govern our behavior
o Positivist law approach: law is created by state; law is a set of formalized rules, which are maintained by
sanctions/ threat
o Definition in this course: set of norms recognized in certain society and backed by the penalty system of
the state
o In the discussion for this lesson you can give your opinions about limitations of the definitions above
Natural or positivist?
o In this quote from Cicero: "there will not be one such law in Rome and another in Athens, one now and
another in the future, but all peoples at all times will be embraced by a single and eternal unchangeable
law." (Cicero, De Re Publica, 3.33).
The reference is made to an inherent law, which is not made by people but rather exists eternally and
beyond borders. This quote fits within natural law approach.
o "The laws in that society are a subset of the sovereign's commands: general orders that apply to classes
of actions and people and that are backed up by threat of force or "sanction" (Stanford
Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
The reference is made to the orders of the sovereign (i.e. state and its officials), who creates law. Thus,
law is created by men/ state and backed by the sanction.
This quote fits within positivist law approach.
o The Universal Declaration of Human Rights reflects the "recognition of the inherent dignity and of the
equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family".
The reference is made to inherent values and rights, which exist for all humans eternally and inherently.
This quote fits within natural law approach.
Law and other social norms
o Social norms are shared standards of acceptable behavior by groups
o Commonly, regulation is defined as a deliberate state influence, direct and indirect
o Law is a part of social norms and regulation and it is being influenced by other types of social norms and
regulation
These are just few examples of social norms which influence law and which are influenced by the law...
Customs
Norms which specify standard and traditional ways of behavior accepted in certain societies often in application
to specific situations
Ethical norms/ morals
Norms and values in which our morality i.e. understanding of what is good and bad is incorporated
Folkways
Norms that specify learned behavior shared and accepted in specific groups
examples to help you better runderstand the topic. The topics we will discuss in this summary are:
- What is law?
- Law and other social norms
- Legal sources
- Legal systems and legal families
- Public and private law
- National and international law
- Branches of law
- Introduction into national public law
- Constitutional law
- Administrative and criminal law
- Is law a burden?
- Is law a panacea?
What is law?
Origin and definition of the law
o Natural law approach: law is made for humans just like for other animals by nature or by God; law is a
set of inherent values that govern our behavior
o Positivist law approach: law is created by state; law is a set of formalized rules, which are maintained by
sanctions/ threat
o Definition in this course: set of norms recognized in certain society and backed by the penalty system of
the state
o In the discussion for this lesson you can give your opinions about limitations of the definitions above
Natural or positivist?
o In this quote from Cicero: "there will not be one such law in Rome and another in Athens, one now and
another in the future, but all peoples at all times will be embraced by a single and eternal unchangeable
law." (Cicero, De Re Publica, 3.33).
The reference is made to an inherent law, which is not made by people but rather exists eternally and
beyond borders. This quote fits within natural law approach.
o "The laws in that society are a subset of the sovereign's commands: general orders that apply to classes
of actions and people and that are backed up by threat of force or "sanction" (Stanford
Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
The reference is made to the orders of the sovereign (i.e. state and its officials), who creates law. Thus,
law is created by men/ state and backed by the sanction.
This quote fits within positivist law approach.
o The Universal Declaration of Human Rights reflects the "recognition of the inherent dignity and of the
equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family".
The reference is made to inherent values and rights, which exist for all humans eternally and inherently.
This quote fits within natural law approach.
Law and other social norms
o Social norms are shared standards of acceptable behavior by groups
o Commonly, regulation is defined as a deliberate state influence, direct and indirect
o Law is a part of social norms and regulation and it is being influenced by other types of social norms and
regulation
These are just few examples of social norms which influence law and which are influenced by the law...
Customs
Norms which specify standard and traditional ways of behavior accepted in certain societies often in application
to specific situations
Ethical norms/ morals
Norms and values in which our morality i.e. understanding of what is good and bad is incorporated
Folkways
Norms that specify learned behavior shared and accepted in specific groups
