对法律规范性来源的回答构成不同法律理论学术传统之间的区别,也是法律领域中认识法律现象、展开深入讨论的基础。在延续法律实证主义对法律的权威与效力进行强调的进路之下,在对法律实证主义者尤其是哈特"社会规则理论"分析与讨论的基础上,麦考密克的法律制度规范性理论通过分析规则与习惯的关系,以及由此生发出的"惯习性规范"概念,填补了规则与习惯间的缝隙,为认识法律的规范性来源问题做出了贡献,也推动了法律理论的发展。
The answer to the resource of the normativeness of law form the difference of different academic traditions in legal theory. And it also exits as the foundation to recognize legal phenomenon and to discuss issues thoroughly. Nell MacCormick contributed to fill up the gap between rules and habits and the recognition of the resource of the normativeness of law, and pushed forward the development of legal theory. He reserved the approach of legal positivists' stress to the authority of law and legal validity, he especially analyzed and discussed H. L. A. Hart' s Social Rules Theory to clarify the relationship between rules and habits and the exist of convention norms derive from convention through it's institutional normative theory of law.