Codes, Policies and Laws

Because individuals must often work together for a harmonious society, cultures have developed ways of formalizing certain principles that they feel people in the society must follow. These more formalized principles, structured into systems referred to as codes, policies, and laws, vary somewhat based on their formality and whether some element of enforcement and/or punishment exists within them.

Codes, the least formal system of providing guidance for behavior, advise a person in the society on how to behave. They often lack provisions for enforcement or a system that dictates appropriate punishment for violating elements of the code. Policies, which have somewhat more structure, often control behavior within some sort of institution such as a workplace, university, etc.

The most formalized and commonly known guidelines for behavior, laws, have both a formal structure for enforcement and clear penalties for violations of the law. It’s important to remember that all three of these systems are rooted in ideals and values of a culture: Our laws against fraud, for example, exhibit an ideal that people be treated fairly and receive accurate, complete information in business dealings.