I. Reasons of obeying the Laws: Individuals obey laws due to two prime reasons: 

(i) Fear of punishment-Punishment by the state results in curtailment of essential freedoms of individuals and hence acts as a deterrent.

(ii) Rule conforming habit-Many individuals believe that adherence to laws is necessary for their own well-being and prosperity as also for social stability and progress. This is called the "rule conforming habit". The family, educational institutions and religious preachers all play a role in inculcating and sustaining this behaviour. 

II. Sources of origin of Law:

(i) Laws have their origin in customs, traditions, religion and judicial decisions. As such, they very often have a moral dimension too. This moral dimension and the fact that laws are supported by legal and institutional arrangements enable them to bring about a degree of conformity in human behaviour. Laws that have both customary and legislative support (e.g. prohibition of bigamy) are readily accepted. 

(ii) In modern states, laws are promulgated by legislative organs and enforced by the state through the governments. The government, in this context, includes all official agencies and functionaries through which the state achieves its ends. Laws thus regulate and control social behaviour by ensuring uniformity and conformity.

(iii) With the emergence of modern nation states, an establishment of relationships among them such as political, trading and military, international laws have become necessary to maintain world order. Just as national laws are meant for establishing order and control within domestic boundaries, international laws seek to establish orderly behaviour on the part of nations.