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Sanctions (law)

society Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Rules help people follow the law. Sometimes, people break these rules. They may face penalties. We call these penalties sanctions.

Sanctions can be many things. In criminal law, they are serious. A person might go to jail. They might pay a large fine. Some punishments are very harsh.

In civil law, sanctions are often money. A judge may make a person pay. This happens if they break court rules. A judge can even end a case. This is a very strong sanction. It means the case is over.

Groups use sanctions to keep peace too. The United Nations Security Council can do this. They use sanctions to help the world stay safe.

One word can have two meanings. Usually, sanctions are penalties. But sometimes, it means to approve. If a law sanctions a behavior, it allows it. The word comes from a Latin word. It meant a law that was sacred.

151 words

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