In reality, all sovereigns (be they democratically elected heads of state, ministers and representatives, hereditary monarchies and the like, as well as dictators) adduce legal titles, based upon a set of hierarchically superior rules of law, in support of their claims to righteous political power and status.145 Regardless of whether or not adducing legal titles merely constitutes a rhetorical defense, the combination of the legal title and the rule of law endows the sovereign with a near insurmountable legitimacy and authority, which in turn transforms into the essence of power in ordered societies, namely into the authority to act as supreme law-maker. It is thus naïve of sociological jurisprudence to understand law as being merely a function of actual power. In reality it is the power itself that is determined by law, and in turn the respect for law depends upon the existence of various sociological factors other than brute force, for instance the constitution gains power through: “… its approximate agreement with the national ideas of justice, the people’s need of peace, the lack of organization among those with a rebellious tendency, etc.”146 Even if there were to exist no formal constitution guiding and binding the powers that be, their activities would nevertheless be controlled by other existing rules of law, which is the case regardless of whether or not the supreme powers in a society can violate the laws of the land with impunity. It is therefore possible a ca l l f o r s c i e n t i f i c p u r i t y 339 constitution in making his regulations for social relationships if those regulations are to have the force of law?”144 144 Hägerström, “Är gällande rätt?,” p. 72; “Is Positive Law?,” p. 30. Swedish:“Är det verkligen så, att ‘den politiska auktoriteten’ för att tala med Holland har faktisk makt oberoende av en över den samma stående rätt och att först genom denna makt rätten har kraft? Vi hålla oss närmast till konstitutionellt styrda stater. Är det icke så, att likväl som den enskilde i sina fordringar på andra enskilda för att kunna realisera sina rättigheter måste åberopa sig på gällande rätt, måste också den politiska auktoriteten vid sina regleringar av samhälleliga förhållanden stödja sig på bestående konstitution, för att de skola få kraft?” 145 Hägerström, “Är gällande rätt?,” p. 76; “Is Positive Law?,” pp. 34-35. 146 Hägerström, “Är gällande rätt?,” pp. 72-73; “Is Positive Law?,” p. 31. Swedish: “… dess relative överensstämmelse med det nationella rättsmedvetandet, folkets behov av lugn, den bristande organisationen hos folkklasser med upprorstendenser etc.”
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