What is Law?
Law is a system of rules made by a government and which citizens must obey. Typically, laws are designed to keep society in order and discourage violence. The law may also be used to punish those who break the rules, for example by fines or imprisonment. Law can be considered as a branch of political science and is closely related to political philosophy.
The law can be broadly defined as any set of rules that govern the behaviour and rights of a group or individual, such as a nation-state or company. In a democracy, the law is generally based on a constitution, which contains fundamental principles such as the rule of law, parliamentary sovereignty and individual liberty. The law is also shaped by the way power is distributed in a country, which can be determined by the nature of its economy, the existence or lack of political rivalry and the extent to which military force can be used in the defence of a country’s territory and citizens.
Moreover, the law can be influenced by the perception of the relationship between power and morality. For example, the concept of a ‘noble cause’ can influence whether or not a person is permitted to break the law. In some cases, the laws of a country are created by a particular religion, which can influence the rights and responsibilities of people in that jurisdiction.
In the modern world, many countries use a common law legal system, in which decisions of judges are recognised as legally binding, and the principle of stare decisis means that earlier rulings on similar cases bind later courts. Other countries, particularly those in Asia, have civil law systems, which are based on concepts, categories and rules derived from Roman or canon law, supplemented or modified by local custom and culture.
Law can be applied to any area of life, such as a contract between two people or an exchange of goods and services, or it can apply to a specific event, for instance an automobile accident or defamation. It can also be applied to the way in which a person treats their tangible property, such as their home or car, or the intangible property they own, such as shares of stock.
The law can be considered as the basis for a society’s ethical standards and is important in determining the stability of an economy, the effectiveness of its military and policing, its ability to provide social justice, its environmental performance and the quality of its democracy. It is also important in shaping the lives of its citizens and in enabling them to meet their aspirations. A society without the rule of law can become chaotic and unruly, but one with the rule of law is able to function efficiently, fairly and securely. For more information on laws, see law, history of; legal philosophy; and the article on courts. Also see lawyer; and law school.