General Theory of Law and State is divided into two parts: the first devoted to law, the second to the state. Together these topics constitute the most systematic and comprehensive exposition of Kelsens jurisprudence. The volume is not only a compendium of Kelsens lifework; it is also an extension of his theories to embrace the problems and institutions of English and American law as well as those of the Civil Law countries. Indeed, references to Continental European law are minimal compared with examples, scattered throughout the text, taken from the U.S. Constitution and several American court cases. This is more than a concession to American readers; it signifies that Kelsens legal theory is truly general in that it accounts for the Common Law as well as the Civil Law.