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Formulating an unambiguousunambiguousunambiguous definition of law is not a simple task. The disputeto disputedispute over “what law is”, based on philosophy and legal theory, dates back toto date back todates back to ancient times. In the formal sense, law is a system of norms, characterized by specific featuresfeaturefeatures, in force in a given territory. This system is:

• hierarchical – legal norms remain in relation to each other (supremacysupremacysupremacy and subordinationsubordinationsubordination),

• cohesivecohesivecohesive (consistentconsistentconsistent) – there are no contradictingcontradictingcontradicting norms within the system,

• complete – regulating all aspects of social life.

The essence of the law is to determine the permittedpermittedpermitted, prohibitedprohibitedprohibited or prescribedprescribedprescribed behaviors, and the situations in which state coercion may legally be applied. The law was and remains the basic instrument of policy implementation. Nowadays, it regulates practically all areas of social activity, enabling solving conflicts between individuals and social groups.

The law is not the only normative system regulating people's behavior. Moral, religious and traditional norms play the same role.

• Moral norms concern behaviors, attitudes and intentions that are evaluated from the point of view of such values as goodness, equityequityequity, justice. Establishing an exhaustiveexhaustiveexhaustive list of moral norms accepted by all members of a given community is very difficult, if not impossible;

• Religious norms are bindingbindingbinding for the followersfollowerfollowers of a particular religion, justified by reference to God (absolute);

• Traditional norms regulate forms of behavior, shaped by tradition and habitshabithabits, adopted in a given community in a specific historical epoch.

The legal norms often mirrorto mirrormirror other (moral, religious or traditional) norms functioning in the society, because then they are more likelylikelylikely to be observed. However, it is also possible for the law to contradictto contradictcontradict other normative systems.

Functions of the law:

• stability – maintenancemaintenancemaintenance of the social, economic and political order in society

• protection – ensuring the observance of selected values, as well as the rights and freedoms of an individual,

• organisation – creating institutions to satisfyto satisfysatisfy basic needs of society,

• repression – punishment of infringementsinfringementinfringements,

• control – establishment of standards of behaviour to make them more predictablepredictablepredictable in order to increase the social sense of security,

• distribution – ensuring fair distribution of social benefits and burdenburdenburden among the members of the community,

• regulation – creation of mechanism and procedures to resolve disputesto resolve (disputes)resolve disputes between individuals.

From the beginning of the existence of states, the law is one of the most important instruments of exercising power. In the last three centuries, the importance of law in public life has increased.

First of all, the law‑making process has been democratized. The universality of electoral rights and the development of forms of political participation other than representative democracy means that the circle of citizens participating in the law‑making process or influencing this process has grown significantly.

Secondly, we deal with the process of iuridisation of social life, which means, on the one hand, broadening the sphere regulated by law, and on the other hand limiting the meaning of other normative systems (traditional, moral or religious norms).

Thirdly, the principle of rule of law has become more widespreadwidespreadwidespread, meaning that the law governs the functioning of the institutions of power and limits the freedom of political decision making.

Keywords

law, natural/positive law, legal positivism, legal realism, moral/religious/traditional norms, functions of the law, general legal principles, iuridisation, rule of law

Glossary