“The laws are regulations established by public authority, to be observed in society. All these ought to relate to the welfare of the state and of its citizens. The laws made directly with a view to the public welfare are political laws; and in this class, those that concern the body itself and the being of society, the form of government, the manner in which the public authority is to be exerted-those in a word, which together form the constitution of the state, are the fundamental laws.” –The Law of Nations, Chapter III, §29.
In law, as in any science, their exists certain fundamental principles which form its basis and to which reference must be made in its application. These fundamental principles in law are referredto as “Maxims of Law. If one fails to understand the fundamental principles of law, then there is no end to which he can be misled or deceived about what is right and what is wrong.
Law of Nations
The great eighteenth-century theorist of international law Emer de Vattel (1714–1767) was a key figure in sustaining the practical and theoretical influence of natural jurisprudence through the Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras. Coming toward the end of the period when the discourse of natural law was dominant in European political theory, Vattel’s contribution is cited as a major source of contemporary wisdom on questions of international law in the American Revolution and even by opponents of revolution, such as Cardinal Consalvi, at the Congress of Vienna of 1815. The significance of The Law of Nations resides in its distillation from natural law of an apt model for international conduct of state affairs that carried conviction in both the Old Regime and the new political order of 1789–1815.
Maxims of Law
In Law, as with any science, their exists certain fundamental principles which form its basis and to which reference must be frequently made in its application. These fundamental principles in law are referred to as "Maxims of Law." Sir William Blackstone says they are "somewhat like axioms in geometry. "1 Certain Maxims of Law have prevailed throughout recorded history. They can be found in the old English Common Law, in the ancient Roman Law, and can be found in the Bible as well. These maxims of law are so manifestly founded on reason, necessity and Divine precepts, that they have been universally accepted as being true rules and principles of law. They thus have become a part of the general customs and common law of the land of every civilized nation.
Two Treatises of Government
Two Treatises of Government (or Two Treatises of Government: In the Former, The False Principles, and Foundation of Sir Robert Filmer, and His Followers, Are Detected and Overthrown. The Latter Is an Essay Concerning The True Original, Extent, and End of Civil Government) is a work of political philosophy published anonymously in 1689 by John Locke. The First Treatise attacks patriarchalism in the form of sentence-by-sentence refutation of Robert Filmer's Patriarcha, while the Second Treatise outlines Locke's ideas for a more civilized society based on natural rights and contract theory. The book is a key foundational text in the theory of Liberalism.
A Collection of Legal Maxims in Law and Equity
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Treatise on False Arrest and Imprisonment
This book is about liberty. It is about the lawful and unlawful means by which government acts in depriving an individual of his liberty. Hiswry teaches that deprivation of liberty is more often arbitrary and unlawful than it is otherwise. At least this is always the tendency of those who hold executive power. Daniel Webster once stated this problem In these words: "The contest for ages has been to rescue liberry from rhe grasp oflhe executive power."
Our Founding Documents Primer
The term "founding documents" typically refers to the key historical texts that played a pivotal role in the establishment and governance of a nation. In the context of the United States, the founding documents include the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. These three documents are also referred to as "The Charters of Freedom." This packet examines these documents in detail.
50 State Constitutions, Bills & Declarations of Rights
While the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights are federal documents, many individual states have their own constitutions, bills of rights, and declarations of rights that outline the rights and protections afforded to their residents. Each state's constitution and bill of rights is unique, reflecting the history, values, and legal traditions of that particular state.
The Authority of Law
Law is a concept that we are exposed to all of our lives, and which affects our lives and the things around us. Law is as essential to a well ordered universe as it is to a stable and just civil or jural society, or a properly kept family unit. That we might better understand how law relates to us we need to define what it is or should be.
The Complete Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers are a collection of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay between 1787 and 1788. These essays were published anonymously under the pseudonym "Publius" and were written to promote the ratification of the United States Constitution. The essays were originally published in various New York newspapers and later compiled into a single volume. The Federalist Papers provide insights into the framers' intentions, explanations of the provisions of the Constitution, and arguments in favor of its adoption. The authors sought to address concerns and criticisms raised by anti-Federalists, who opposed the new Constitution, fearing it granted too much power to the federal government at the expense of individual liberties and the authority of the states. The Federalist Papers remain an important resource for understanding the thoughts and motivations behind the drafting and ratification of the United States Constitution. They are often cited in constitutional interpretation and discussions about the structure of the U.S. government.
