INTRODUCTION TO LAW DEFINITIONS

Law determines not only the activities of men as Law- means any rule of action or system of uniformity.
rational beings but also the movements or motions of all
objects of creation, whether animate or inanimate.

General divisions of law.

1. Law in the strict legal sense, which is promulgated and

enforced by the state.

2. Law in the non-legal sense, which is not promulgated

and enforced by the state.

Subjects of law.

Law as rule of action

1. State Law

2. Divine Law

3. Natural Law

4. Moral Law

Law only figuratively speaking

1. Physical Law

Divine Law
Divine Law- is the law of religion and faith which
1. Source- Promulgate by God and revealed and concerned itself with the concept of sin and salvation.
divulge to mankind by means of direct revelation.

a. Divine law is embodied in the ten

commandments under the old testament.

b. Divine Law differs according to what one

believes and communicated to mankind.

2. Sanction- lies in the assurance of certain rewards and

punishment in the present life or in the life to come.

Natural Law
Natural Law- divine inspiration in man of the sense of
Formal dictates of reason aloe/ justice, fairness and righteousness, not by divine
1. Binding Force- Binding on all men everywhere and at all revelation or formal promulgation.
times. The acts of conduct which man knows in his heart and
conscience, not by theorizing, but by dictated of his moral
nature, are simply good or evil.

2. Compared to divine law- Natural Law is impressed in man

as the core of his higher self and not made known to man
by means of direct revelation like the divine law.

3. Place in State Law- regarded as the reasonable basis of

state law.
Moral Law Moral Law- totality of norms of good and right conduct
growing out of the collective sense of right and wrong of
1. Determination of what is right and wrong
every community.
2. Sanction- no definite legal sanction but there is
conformity to the moral norms.
Mores- way of life
3. Binding force- not absolute and varies with the
changing times, conditions and convictions of the
people.

4. Place in state law- to a great extent, influences or

shapes the state law.

Physical Law- Physical phenomena that we sense and

Physical Law
feel such as the uniformities of actions and order of
Known as the law of physical science o physical law. sequence.

1. Order of regularity in nature- Certain results follow

certain causes.

2. Called law only by analogy

Law in General sense- Law taken together. Mass

State law obligatory rules established for the purpose of governing
the relations of persons in society.
Promulgated and enforced by the state.
Law in Specific Sense- Rule of conduct, just, obligatory
1. Other terms used- called positive law, municipal law,
promulgated by legitimate authority and of common
civil law, or imperative law.
observance and benefit.
2. Binding force, only state law is enforced by the state
with the aids of its physical force if necessary.

3. Concerns of state law- does not concern itself with

violations. Also constitutes violations of its commands.

Characteristics of Law. (Specific sense)

1. It is a rule of conduct- tell what should and shouldn’t

be done and takes cognizance of external acts only.

2. It is obligatory- considered positive command

imposing a duty to obey.

3. It is promulgated by legitimate authority-