week 1 | Basic Concept of Law

Most people would agree that the law governs human behavior by rules. It forbids certain ways of behaving, for instance, stealing, killing, or exceeding speed limits and prescribes others. For example, paying taxes or driving on the right lane. Legal rules are also called norms. The law does not stop at setting up rules. It also secures compliance with them by threatening persons who disregard a rule with some disadvantage, like being imprisoned or having to pay money. This consequence is called a sanction. The task of the state is to put the sanction into effect, for instance, to put the offender into prison or to take the money from him. We say: the sanction is enforced by the state.

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