20 Examples of Unilateral and Bilateral Standards


The rules They are the set of rules designed to regulate people’s behavior. There are many kinds of norms, according to the strict provenance of compliance: for example, modern societies are constituted based on a system of law whereby all people have certain obligations, which are thought to be the obligation to be fulfilled contributes to a good coexistence between people.

The norms that appear written as laws, and are likely to be complied with because otherwise there will be a certain sanction, they are called legal norms. On the other hand, to the norms that must be fulfilled rather according to a series of moral criteria, and their fulfillment does not require the obligation but is nevertheless considered ‘well seen‘by society that person who does act according to that rule, they are called moral standards.

What are the bilateral rules and the unilateral rules?

The bilateral rules are those standards whose compliance may be required. In contrast, and in accordance with the formal definition of standards, they will be unilateral rules those that do not have any person or entity empowered to demand compliance.

In effect, they will be unilateral norms which, due to the origin and legitimacy that underpin them, must be complied with, but it is not something that has a correlation in someone’s ability to demand it. Most moral standards fall into this category, but perhaps the best example is religious standards.

In matters of law, the substantial difference Between unilateral and bilateral rules it can be easily synthesized: while the unilateral ones simply give rise to an obligation, bilateral rules have the characteristic that they generate an obligation but also a right for a third party, precisely to demand the corresponding obligation. The following list will show some examples of each kind of standard.

Examples of bilateral rules

  1. Respect a contract, once concluded.
  2. Do not publicly slander or insult another person.
  3. Do not steal or take belongings that are not your own.
  4. Do not trespass on private property.
  5. Do not physically assault a person.
  6. Do not drive while intoxicated.
  7. Pay the commitments you have, in the case of having employees in a dependency relationship.
  8. Do not evade taxes.
  9. Do not make annoying noises at times that are not allowed.
  10. Do not copy or have prohibited materials in a test.

Examples of unilateral rules

  1. You will not commit immodest acts, as a religious commandment.
  2. Give the seat to elderly or disabled people, in public transport.
  3. Not lie.
  4. Do not live in a climate of violence in your own home.
  5. You will honor your father and mother, as a religious commandment.
  6. Respect religious symbols, and religions that are not your own.
  7. Do not throw garbage on the street.
  8. Be in solidarity with those who have the least.
  9. You will not covet the goods of others, as a religious commandment.
  10. Greet older people and treat them with respect.