A concept from [[Strategic Family Therapy]] that discusses the explicit and implicit (overt and covert) rules a family uses to govern their system. Each family has different rules. There is no "correct" set of rules (unlike [[Structural Family Therapy]], which does believe in a particular structure) Rules around hierarchy are particularly important. - Who has the power to make decisions? - Are the rules and hierarchy in alignment? - If the mom is supposed to be making decisions, but the child is the one actually doing that, we have a problem. Some rules are more functional than others.