Why people obey the laws of the state
Posted by Chester Morton / Wednesday, 16 March 2016 / No comments
There are several reasons why
people obey the laws of the state.
Law abiding family
Some people come from families
that are naturally law-abiding. They come from a long line of grandparents and
parents who have respect for law and authority. Obeying the laws of the state
is an offshoot of that family tradition so it is easy for them to obey the laws of their land.
Moral Obligation
One major function of the state
is to protect the rights, properties, etc of citizens, and also to provide
them with certain essential facilities. In return, it is just appropriate for the citizens to reciprocate the government by obeying the laws of the state.
The fear of punishment
Some citizens obey the laws of
the state because of the fear of being sanctioned when caught. The state
has the power to compel anybody to obey the law if that individual chooses to
disobey the laws or punish the culprit using the court system. So for fear of punishment, some citizens are compelled to obey the law.
Public Interest
Some obey the law because they
assume, and rightly so, that the laws are made for the general good of everybody in the state. For this reason, they just naturally obey the law.
Religious Reasons
Religious people obey the laws of
the state because they are taught to do so by their sacred books. Christians,
for example, are taught to obey every authority that is on earth because it was
instituted by God. In Hebrews 13:17, the Bible says, “Obey them that have rule
over you….” If they obey this scripture, they will obey the laws of the state.
Loyalty to Government
When people obey the laws of the
state, it shows that they are loyal. It is a good thing to be loyal to the
state. In addition, it gives the government of the day legitimacy.
Ensures Stability
Stability is made possible when
people obey the laws of the land. One important law of the land is the law
concerning treason. When citizens obey this particular law, it means nobody would
take up arms to overthrow the sitting government.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. a. Define a state.
b. Explain five reasons why people obey the
laws of the state.
2. a. Who is a citizen?
b. What five reasons do citizens give for
obeying the laws of the state?
3. Give six reasons why people obey the state.
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