Legal Principles as Part of the Legal System

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the characteristics of legal principles, which are essential elements of the legal system and the law as a whole. Legal principles are fundamental rules with a stable nature and a deep philosophical basis. They form the legal framework and emerge from influences that precede statutory law, which are related to timeless concepts such as truth, justice, proportionality, correctness and general accuracy in actions. Legal principles are located within the normative hierarchy, which includes legal principles, legal norms, legal doctrine and legal practice. One of the main objectives of this paper is to show the differences between principles and values and the place they occupy in the legal system. Values play a crucial role in the formulation of laws. Unlike principles, values carry a more focused meaning, but they lack clear definitions. Some values acquire legal significance as they form the basis of the law and the legal framework. The law includes these values from various social fields. However, those values that are acquired through legal rules and communication, in conjunction with social experience, ultimately form the foundation of legal principles. Different principles, such as equality, democracy, or the rule of law, are interconnected and do not exist independently; they are intrinsically linked to each other.

Received: 20 February 2026  │  Accepted: 10 June 2026  │  Published: 23 July 2026