IMPERATIVE THEORY OF LAW

imperative theory of law.The theory that law consists of the general commands issued by a country or other political community to its subjects and enforced by courts with the sanction of physical force. • Imperative theorists believe that if there are rules predating or independent of the country, those rules may closely resemble law or even substitute for it, but they are not law. See POSITIVE LAW. Cf. NATURAL LAW.

[Blacks Law 8th]