H.L.A. Hart's distinction between primary and secondary rules demonstrates that the legal force of any rule depends on a 'rule of recognition' grounded in social practice, not formal inscription.
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primary rules(e.g. laws against murder (Hart 1961))
Rules that directly govern the behaviour of citizens.
rule of recognition(Positivist clarification against Dworkin's diversity argument)
A social rule that identifies source-based legal norms; positivists deny it is meant to identify all relevant reasons for legal decisions or to tell judges how to decide cases
secondary rules(e.g. the legislative processes for enacting primary rules (Hart 1961))