Moral principles are rules that individuals follow to ensure that they are doing ethically.

Honesty, justice,
and equality are examples of these values. Moral values change from person to person depending on
how they were taught and what is important to them in life. It can be influenced by factors such as
culture, religion, life events, and personal ideals. These have an influence on a person's identity and self-
worth. They educate us that all people are entitled to the same rights. On the other hand, legal
principles are based on the rights of the citizens and the state expressed in the rules. A state's legal
system is a set of laws that it uses to govern conduct through punishments. An action is permissible if it
does not violate any of the written rules.

The study of moral principles began with Ancient Greek philosophers such as Aristotle, who desired to
know what virtue meant. Philosophers such as John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Immanuel Kant
later investigated moral concepts. Moral principles have been researched in the context of moral growth
in the discipline of psychology. Morality is considered to have existed since the dawn of time for
humans. Religion, on the other hand, is largely acknowledged for cementing morality as a necessary
societal construct. People began to maintain behavioral norms that had severe implications as a result of
their shared religions. As a result, religion and morality were passed down through generations and
regions, and while morality differed from person to person, it became fundamental to society. However,
legal principles are promulgated and enforced by the states. Before a principle becomes legal, it starts
off as a bill filed in Congress, then goes through a process which culminates with its submission to the
President for his consideration; once signed by the President, the bill becomes a law.