Legal Language A CONCEPT OF NORM LEGAL PRINCIPLE

Preliminary remarks Various terms: Rule, norm, provision, regulation Polish Criminal Code Art § 1. Whoever kills a human being shall be subject to the penalty of the deprivation of liberty for a minimum term of 8 years, the penalty of deprivation of liberty for 25 years or the penalty of deprivation of liberty for life.

Structure of a norm Three necessary components: adressee – scope of application – scope of regulation adressee: the subject to whom the norm is addressed physical person (private individual) legal person (corporate body) organization unit that lacks legal personality (eg. private partnership)‏

Structure of a norm s. of application – scope of circumstances (situations) in which the norm shall be applied A difference between validity and application of a norm s. of regulation – scope of conducts which are ordered, prohibited or allowed by the norm

Structure of a norm adressee – scope of application – scope of regulation HYPOTHESISDISPOSITION H D

Structure of a norm Polish Civil Code: Art Any person who through his fault has caused an injury to another person shall be liable to make it good. Art The debtor shall exercise the care generally pertinent to the given relations (proper care).

The problem of sanction Sanction: some (negative) consequence of breaking a norm Three types of sanction: punishment execution nullity

Individual and general According to the way of describing (denoting) an adressee. Individual: as a particular entity, using some personal (and conventional) label - like name, ID number, PESEL etc. General: with some general attributes, usually as a group of subjects of some sort - like profession (teacher, soldier), social role (mother), type of relation (debtor, creditor) etc.

Abstract and concrete According to the way of describing an obligation (obligation = some kind of behaviour). Concrete: as a real, particular course of action of somebody. In specific situation, with clear time-spatial boundaries. Abstract: as a type of conduct which is described in non- contextual and repeatable way.

Characteristic of legal norms Legal norms are abtract and general. Creditor may claim performance from the debtor while the debtor is obliged to effect the performance [art. 353 § 1 PCC] Individual and concrete norms are typical of law applying. (eg. administrative decisions, court verdicts)‏ Maciej P. shall pay 100 złoty back that he owes Bartosz G.

Rules and principles Principle – an ambiguous term 1. Principles in a normative sense 2. Principles in a descriptive sense 3. In a non-positivistic sense

Principle in a normative sense Legal norm explicitly formulated in a legal text, of special relevance for: the whole legal system; the branch of a legal system (e.g. civil law, criminal law); particular lawmaking instrument; particular legal institution.

Principle in a descriptive sense Reconstructed from a set of particular rules (procedure of induction). Models for shaping legal institutions. Eg.: the equality of parties in civil law protection of a welfare of child in family law General principles of EU law (proportionality, subsidiarity, fundamental rights etc.)

Principles – Dworkin's concept 'NORMAL' RULES Valid due to formal criteria Precise scope of application „All or nothing” fashion of appl. Abstract and derogative mode of solving collisions PRINCIPLES Material weight and 'institutional acceptance' Imprecise scope of application „Less or more” fashion of application Solving collisions in each particular case; both principles valid

Principles – Dworkin's conception Dworkin's thesis: Principles are inconclusive, still they can be efficient legal ground for decision. Alexy's thesis: Principles have optimalizing character and give directives for interpretation of typical rules.