Legal Definitions - normative

Normative describes something that establishes, relates to, or conforms to a standard, rule, or ideal. It often refers to principles, theories, or rules that prescribe how things should be, rather than simply describing how they are.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Imagine a country's constitution that outlines fundamental human rights, such as freedom of speech and the right to a fair trial. These constitutional provisions are normative because they set the standards and ideals for how the government should treat its citizens and how the legal system should operate. They don't just describe existing practices but establish the principles that ought to be upheld.

• Consider a professional medical association that publishes a comprehensive code of ethics for its doctors. This code is normative because it defines the expected ethical conduct and professional responsibilities that all members should adhere to when treating patients. It provides a benchmark for appropriate behavior, guiding doctors on how they ought to practice medicine, rather than merely observing how they currently do.

• Think about a company's internal policy that mandates all employees complete a certain number of hours of diversity and inclusion training each year. This policy is normative because it establishes a standard for employee education and behavior that the company expects everyone to meet. It sets a rule for what employees should do to foster an inclusive workplace, rather than just noting whether they choose to participate in such training.