Law is a system of rules that a society or government develops in order to deal with crime, business agreements, social relationships and property. These rules are enforced by a controlling authority through penalties.
The precise definition of law is disputed, with different people holding many different ideas about the nature and purpose of laws. One common theme that emerges, though, is the notion that laws are created and enforced in order to serve a public purpose, such as to maintain social stability or to protect against abuses of power by those in positions of authority.
There are various types of law, depending on the area of legal practice or policy involved. The broadest category is criminal law, which covers all aspects of the administration of justice relating to the detection and prosecution of crimes against individuals and communities. In addition, other specific types of law include administrative law (governing the operation and development of institutions such as schools and hospitals) and family law.
Other categories of law include commercial law, contract law and tort law (laws relating to injury caused by the negligent or reckless behaviour of others). In some countries, such as the United States, decisions made by judges in legal cases are regarded as law on an equal footing with legislative statutes and executive regulations. This is known as the doctrine of precedent or stare decisis, and it ensures that similar legal cases reach consistent conclusions. In contrast, other countries, such as Japan, employ a civil law system in which legislative statutes set out the principles and procedures that judges must follow when making their decisions.
Those who study the discipline of law often break down the law into sub-disciplines, for example criminal law, corporate law, property law and international law. This makes it easier to examine a particular aspect of the law and its relationship with other areas of policy.
A further way to examine the law is to look at the purposes it serves, which are usually defined as the maintenance of social stability, the protection of personal rights and the promotion of human dignity. This may be achieved in a number of ways, for example by maintaining a balance between the powers of government and private individuals, by guaranteeing that laws are reasonably understood and enforceable, by ensuring that people face consequences for wrongdoing regardless of their wealth or status, and by establishing mechanisms to prevent abuses of power by those in position of authority.
The law is a complex and dynamic phenomenon that has evolved over time in response to changing social, economic and political conditions. It is also subject to constant debate and review as the societies it governs adapt to change. Oxford Reference offers a range of concise and detailed entries that cover all aspects of the law, from individual legal disciplines to major debates in legal theory. Our entries are written by expert authors and are designed for researchers at every level, from students to professionals.