THE LEGITIMACY OF CRIMINAL LAW

Abstract

The subject concerning the legitimacy of criminal law has become a medular issue on the contemporary studies on the matter. Nowadays, is understood that from the answer given to such question, depends the construction of the theoric criminal law system. We find two majoritary positions among the contemporary studies on the subject. In one hand, we find those who sustain that the legitimacy of the criminal law depends on the Constitution, in which we find the basic postulates of the State in which the criminal law will be applied, in behalf of the construction of a true system. In the other hand, we find those who find the answer in the need of law in the society in order to maintain the expectatives of behavior among it´s members.