Law is a system of rules that governs the way people and institutions operate. It is used to prevent crime, maintain orderly society, and protect individual rights.
The concept of law comes from a Greek root, meaning “to control.” It is primarily a social institution. It is a tool of social engineering where conflicting pulls of political philosophy, economic interests and ethical values struggle for recognition against a background of history, tradition and legal technique.
In modern times, the word has a sharp distinction between individually told tales of legal inequality and a community narrative that aims to equalize justice among all members of society. While both stories may be accurate, the community narrative is much more powerful and binding.
A law is a rule that is prescribed by a sovereign authority and imposed on the citizens of a country or community. It may be based on a written code that is compiled by judges or courts, or it may be formulated in general terms and applied by judges.
Business laws define the requirements for forming, operating, and dissolving a business. They also include regulations that deal with the rights of employees and with the transfer of ownership of the business.
These regulations can apply to a single act or to a series of acts that collectively form the operation of a business.
The underlying principles of law are derived from the common law, which originated in England and is still in use in the United States. It relies on the articulation of legal principles in a historical succession of judicial decisions.
Law can be divided into public law and private law. In a civilized society, everyone has rights, and all laws must be obeyed by all people.
Those who violate the laws can be arrested or imprisoned. Laws can also help to resolve disputes peacefully between people who disagree. If two people are claiming the same piece of land, they can file a lawsuit and the court will decide who is really the owner.
A person who studies the law is called a lawyer. They study the laws that govern a particular area of interest and attempt to apply them to the case at hand. They can also be called a judge or jurist.
Another term for the law is statute, which means “a body of law enacted by a legislative body.” A statute can be changed or amended by legislation (which is passed into law by the legislature) as the state or country develops.
The laws of a nation can keep the peace, maintain the status quo, preserve individual rights, protect minorities against majorities, promote social justice, and provide for orderly social change. Some legal systems serve these purposes better than others.
