Legal force of the source of law: the problem of foundations

The article analyzes the category of “legal force” from the standpoint of determining its nature and content features. The main attention is paid to the factors influencing the origin of legal force and the sequence of its formation. The interdependent relationship is justified of the categories “legal force” and “source of law” is argued, the expression of legal force is considered on the example of formal sources of law. The author draws attention to the international nature of the category of “legal force” and expresses his views on the applicability of the stare decisis doctrine to substantiate the legal force of formal sources of law.