Law is a system of rules and customs developed by a government or society to regulate behavior and ensure social order. It also defines the boundaries of rights and obligations of people in a given society. The law encompasses areas of crime, property, trade, finance and more. Law is a rich topic for study and provides a source of scholarly inquiry into history, philosophy, economic analysis and sociology.
Some definitions of law include an element of morality, and others focus on the social science of justice (the proper distribution of privileges and burdens among the members of a society). In any case, there are many ways to understand law. Some of the most popular include:
The Law is the body of regulations enacted by a political authority to manage society and protect its citizens. It can be created by a collective legislature resulting in statutes, or by the executive branch in decrees and regulations, or by judges through precedent in common law systems. In addition, private individuals can create legally binding contracts. The law regulates such diverse topics as the ownership of land, business and property; it deals with criminal behaviour that threatens public order; it governs financial transactions; and it addresses such issues as maternity leave and employment discrimination.
Even in well-ordered societies, conflicts arise. Laws can help resolve these disputes, such as in the case of two people who claim the same piece of property. They can also ensure that people behave safely and treat one another fairly.
A key characteristic of a legal system is its ability to adapt to changing social needs and conditions. This is achieved through a combination of legislative and judicial systems that provide flexibility and openness to change. Legislative systems provide clear statements of rules and duties, with space for the judiciary to fill in the gaps based on equity and general principles through creative jurisprudence. In addition, the judicial system has an important role to play in ensuring that the law is not biased and that it remains impartial.
Despite these fundamental features of law, there is no possibility for empirical verification of its contents. Law may be true or false, real or mythical, sanctioned or unsanctified. It cannot mandate behaviours that are impossible or force people to do things beyond their capabilities, but laws can describe the shape of the physical world and the forces that operate within it. The law describes the consequences of certain actions, but it does not explain why those consequences occur. This is because the law depends on humans, who are capable of rational deliberation.
