Law is a set of rules, both formal and informal, that govern social and governmental activity. It is the subject of scholarly study in fields as diverse as history, philosophy, economic analysis and sociology. It raises fundamental questions about equality, fairness and justice.
A broad and ambiguous term, the law is variously defined as: a system of rules imposed by an authority, a rule of action sanctioned by conscience or concepts of natural justice, the will of a deity or the laws of nature. In the case of human beings, a code of behavior can be called moral or natural law, while in the case of inanimate objects, it may be called mechanical or physics laws.
The law can be a system of rules enacted by a government, or it may be a body of legal principles interpreted and enforced by courts, or both. It can also be a body of principles based on prior judgments, called precedent. In the case of precedent, it is important to note that such decisions must be based on clear and convincing evidence in order to be considered valid. Blackstone wrote that judges must be “the depositories of the law; the living oracles, to whom it is the duty to listen, if they would not judge according to the law.”
There are many different kinds of laws, ranging from criminal to civil to family to corporate and business laws. Criminal law deals with the punishment of those who have committed crimes. Civil law deals with lawsuits or disputes between individuals or corporations. Business law covers commercial transactions and contracts; company or corporation law, patent law, copyright law, and property law are all part of the field. Family law includes marriage, divorce and child custody proceedings. Labor and employment law cover the rights of employees, employers and unions. Terrorism cases often are heard in special national or international courts that have specialized jurisdiction over certain types of crime.
The law is a central element of any state or nation’s governing structure. Its proper operation requires respect for the principles of supremacy of the law, equality before the law and the rule of law, accountability to the law, separation of powers, participation in decision making, and transparency and clarity in the law. The extension of policing and military power over the lives of citizens today presents challenges to the principle of accountability that earlier writers such as Locke and Montesquieu did not anticipate. For this reason, some have sought to revitalize the concept of natural law and its role in the modern world.
