What Are Formal Sanctions?
- Formal sanctions encourage people to comply with legislation.Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Formal sanctions encourage people to comply, and conform to legislation imposed by city, state or federal agencies. The Historic Preservation Commission of the historical Victorian city of Cape May, New Jersey has implemented strict codes for property owners. The city's Historic Preservation ordinance and shade tree commission require at least one shade tree to exist on the street-facing side of any privately owned property within the historic district. Formal sanctions are issued to those owners who don't comply. A code enforcement officer can issue a written citation requesting compliance, or to otherwise be sanctioned a lien against the property in the form of additional taxation. - The award of the Purple Heart is an example of a positive formal sanction.Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
Formal sanctions aren't always negative. They can take the face of rewards for people who exhibit exemplary behavior or performance. Some positive formal sanctions may be awarded to people for joining organizations, or participating in community affairs. In 2009, Jerry Lewis was sanctioned the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his philanthropy and work within the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The presentations of the Purple Heart or Metal of Honor to a United States soldier for performance above and beyond the call of duty are also examples of formal sanctions. - Sanctions may be imposed on people who don't comply with federal taxation laws.Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images
A speeding ticket or citation for littering are two examples of formal law enforcement sanctions. The point system, adopted by the Division of Motor Vehicles agencies across the nation, sanctions points against a person's driving record for unsafe driving and other offenses. If a person accumulates too many points, his license may be sanctioned, and suspended or revoked. A prisoner's early release from incarceration because of good behavior is an example of a positive formal sanction.
At the federal level, the government issues sanctions against those who don't comply with mandated regulations, such as taxation. The federal government also sanctions rebates, and other incentives, for those who meet eligibility requirements for specific programs -- such as the health coverage tax credit, which pays up to 65 percent of qualifying individual or family health insurance premiums. - Sanctions are often in lieu of military action.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
The government imposes sanctions against other countries involving foreign trade and other matters. Sanctions can include restriction of transportation of goods into or out of the United States or other interested country. Sanctions are often in lieu of military action. Sanctions were imposed upon Cuba in 1960 that remain in place and enforced as of 2011.
