Law is the system of rules that a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members. It can be created and enforced by social or governmental institutions and is subject to many debates and discussions. Law is a complex and diverse discipline, and a legal system is highly specific to each nation or region. In some cases, a single country has multiple legal systems in place simultaneously.
The term is often used to refer to a particular country’s laws, such as when someone says that murder is against the law in that geographic area. However, it is also used to describe a career in the law or to discuss the general field of study. For example, Zola dreamed of a law career and studied hard in school to get where she is today.
One of the most fundamental aspects of law is that it sets standards for society and governs the conduct of its citizens. This is known as the rule of law and entails four main functions: establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes, and protecting liberties and rights.
In addition to providing a framework for societal behaviour, the law may be enforced through mechanisms such as fines, jail sentences, or other penalties. The concept of the rule of law implies that there are certain basic requirements for laws: they must be clear and understandable, have a clear purpose, be fair and just, and be stable over time. The rule of law has also been described as a social contract between the government and its citizens, and it should be upheld by all parties.
Law can be made by a group legislature through a bill, which results in a statute; by the executive via decrees and regulations; or through precedent, known as caselaw, in common law jurisdictions. In the United States, for example, all federal and most state laws are incorporated into the United States Code, which is updated every six years. In some areas, such as aviation and railroad law, federal law preempts all state law. In others, such as tort law and criminal law, state and federal laws coexist.
The law is often perceived as a powerful tool that can be used to control and punish individuals. This view is sometimes called the law of force or power and is an important part of some theories of the role of government. Those who hold this view believe that the people are at the mercy of those in government, but it is important to remember that citizens have the right to vote for their government officials and can “switch” them out when they feel they are not performing well.
Other views of the nature of law differ from this, notably a view of the law as something that emerges through natural means rather than being imposed by a central authority. Hans Kelsen, for instance, developed the ‘pure theory of law’, which asserts that law is a normative science. In this view, the law describes what should occur and defines the rules that people must abide by in order to achieve that outcome.