The relation of power, state, law and poverty. State according to law (Rule of Law) and social policy. The origin, definition and development of the welfare state. Welfare state in the framework of the European Union. The relation of the welfare state and social state. Constitutional, legal and socio-economical targets of the welfare (social) state. The welfare state typologies. The three worlds of the welfare state. Global processes and the welfare state reforms and transformations. Welfare state and bureaucracy, centralization and de- centralization in the implementations of the welfare state. The welfare state and highly developed countries and central european countries of the European Unio