Hans Kelsen

Hans Kelsen (Prague, October 11, 1881 – April 19, 1973) was an Austrian -American jurist of Jewish descent.

Legal theory

Kelsen is considered one of the preeminent jurists of the 20th century. His legal theory, a very strict and scientifically understood type of positivism, is based on the idea of a Grundnorm, a hypothetical norm on which all subsequent levels of a legal system such as constitutional law and "simple" law are based.

Related Topics:
20th century - Positivism - Grundnorm - Legal system - Constitutional law

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His theory has followers among scholars of public law world-wide. His disciples developed "schools" of thought to extend his theories, such as the Vienna School in Austria and the Brno School in Czechoslovakia.

Related Topics:
Public law - Austria - Brno - Czechoslovakia

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See also: Carl Schmitt.

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