Legal Definitions - imperative theory of law

The imperative theory of law is a belief that law is made up of general commands issued by a country or political community to its citizens. These commands are enforced by courts with the use of physical force. According to this theory, rules that exist before or outside of a country may resemble law, but they are not considered law.

An example of the imperative theory of law is a law that requires citizens to pay taxes. The government issues a command to its citizens to pay taxes, and failure to comply can result in legal consequences such as fines or imprisonment. Another example is a law that prohibits theft. The government commands its citizens not to steal, and those who do can face punishment.

These examples illustrate how laws are created by a political community and enforced through the use of physical force. The imperative theory of law emphasizes the importance of following these commands to maintain order and stability within a society.