The expressive function of law is the effect of law to create or validate social norms beyond the fear of punishment. For example, the criminalization of homosexuality may be maintained in order to express disapproval of homosexuality, even if it is not regularly enforced.

See also

  • Unenforced law, a law which is formally in effect, but is usually not penalized by a jurisdiction
  • Victimless crime, an illegal act which harms only the perpetrator(s)

Further reading

  • Arnold, N. Scott (2000). "Postmodern Liberalism and the Expressive Function of Law". Social Philosophy and Policy. 17 (1): 87–109. doi:. S2CID .
  • Dharmapala, D. (2003). "The Condorcet Jury Theorem and the Expressive Function of Law: A Theory of Informative Law". American Law and Economics Association. 5 (1): 1–31. doi:.
  • McAdams, Richard H. (2015). The Expressive Powers of Law: Theories and Limits. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-96720-5.
  • Mullender, Richard (1998). . Modern Law Review. 61 (2): 236–244. doi:.
  • Sunstein, Cass R. (1996). . University of Pennsylvania Law Review. 144 (5): 2021–2053. doi:. ISSN . JSTOR . S2CID .