Throughout the history of legal theory, there have been several attempts to construct a more comprehensive theory of law. Some of these attempts have focused on the language of law, while others have concentrated on the use of law as a means of ordering society.

In the 1950s, the Italian legal theorist Norberto Bobbio started to consider law as a language. He conceived of legal science as a meta-language, and developed a theory of law based on a non-cognitivist moral theory.

As Bentham observed, the linguistic acts that are involved in making law are a significant component of the theory of law. While some legal theorists have criticized this claim, others have endorsed it.

While language is not the only way to make law, it is one of the most important. Other agencies are capable of making laws as well.

The most important linguistic effect is the fact that lawmaking can be accomplished by non-legal agencies. For example, an officer of the law can indicate driver direction by gestures. The police can also make a legal effect by using law to enforce social restrictions.

Another notable example is the law of signs. In a legal system, persons subject to the law may dispute the interpretation of legislative acts. This process is called law making and consists of four main phases. The first phase involves the formulation of the law, and involves the disclosure of rules in advance. The second phase involves judicial adjustment of rules, which can be done through creative jurisprudence.