While Law Newss are positive “is” statements (e.g. the fine for reversing on a highway is €500); law tells us what we “should” do. Thus, each legal system can be hypothesised to have a basic norm instructing us to obey. Kelsen’s major opponent, Carl Schmitt, rejected both positivism and the idea of the rule of law because he did not accept the primacy of abstract normative principles over concrete political positions and decisions.

• As a result, as time went on, increasing numbers of citizens petitioned the King to override the common law, and on the King’s behalf the Lord Chancellor gave judgment to do what was equitable in a case.
• The Halakha is a code of Jewish law that summarizes some of the Talmud’s interpretations.
• The sources for public international law development are custom, practice and treaties between sovereign nations, such as the Geneva Conventions.
• From public sector to