This chapter (Basic Concepts of Political Science – Part II) covers five ideas: Law, Citizenship, Rights and Duties, Political Obligation and Property. Ignorance of law is not an excuse anywhere in the world. Law is a tyrant for the criminal and a guardian for its citizen.
1. Law – Meaning and Views
- The term 'Law' was derived from an old Teutonic root 'lag', which means something which lies fixed or evenly. The word law is used to denote 'uniform'.
- In political science, law means a body of rules to guide human action. Without law, life may witness utter chaos and confusion.
- There are two kinds of laws: physical law regulates nature, whereas human law regulates human life.
- Law in relation to justice: the aim of law is to attain justice in society. Justice is an abstract idea of right and wrong, fairness and equality.
| Thinker | View on Law |
|---|---|
| Bodin | Law is the command of the sovereign |
| John Austin | "Law is the command of the sovereign" |
| Salmond | "Law is the collection of rules which the state recognizes and applies in the administration of Justice" |
| Aristotle | If there is no law, even man will behave like a beast |
| Holland | In private laws the parties are private individuals, above and between whom stands the state as an impartial arbiter |