Law is a system of rules, often enforced by a controlling authority, that regulates conduct and behaviour in a society. It is a complex subject with many definitions and debates, but generally it can be described as a set of norms that govern people’s relationships to each other and to the world around them. It shapes politics, economics, history and society in many ways.
In the modern world, law can be a tool for keeping peace and maintaining status quo, or preserving individual rights or allowing for orderly social change. But the exact nature of the law varies from nation to nation, and there are often protests against the way that political-legal systems serve these purposes. For example, an authoritarian government may keep the peace but oppress minorities or opposition politicians. There are also recurring revolutions against existing governments, and movements for greater democracy and a higher degree of “rights” for citizens.
The law can be made by a group legislature, resulting in statutes; it can be created by the executive through decrees and regulations, or it can be established by judges through precedent, known as stare decisis. Private individuals can also create legally binding contracts, such as arbitration agreements that adopt alternative methods of resolving disputes to standard court litigation.
There are many areas of law, and a good law school will offer courses in all of these subjects. Civil law includes fields such as contract and tort, which deal with disputes between people, for example automobile accidents or defamation of character; criminal law deals with offences against the state itself; and administrative law relates to the rules of public service and utilities such as water, electricity and gas. There is also a growing field of biolaw, which combines law with the life sciences and medicine.
The laws that we live by vary from culture to culture, but there are some basic principles that all legal systems have in common. A key principle is transparency, so that people can know the reasons behind laws they are asked to follow, and understand why certain decisions have been made. This principle is particularly important in democratic societies, where the laws are enacted by representatives of the people.