Law is the system of rules and regulations that governs human conduct in a society. It is enforced by a controlling authority and backed by penalties. It serves many purposes, four of which are establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes and protecting liberties and rights. The precise nature of the law is a subject of much debate and has changed throughout history. The law is generally divided into the fields of civil and criminal law. Civil law covers issues such as property, contracts and family law. Criminal law covers crimes such as homicide and fraud. In addition, there are fields such as aviation law, international law and evidence law.
Some philosophers have offered different theories about the nature of law. Utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Bentham claimed that the purpose of law was to provide incentives for people to behave in certain ways. Other philosophers have suggested that law should reflect a higher moral code, such as the works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
Other scholars have argued that the law should be neutral and non-coercive. This view has been influenced by the works of Max Weber, who reshaped thinking about the role of government and law. This has led to a focus on accountability, transparency and fairness in the administration of law.
The law is a complex topic and there are many fields of legal study. The law can be created and enforced by legislative statutes; by the executive through decrees and regulations; or established by judges through the “doctrine of precedent”, in which decisions by higher courts bind lower courts to ensure similar cases reach similar conclusions. Private individuals may also create legally binding contracts and arbitration agreements, which are alternatives to standard court litigation. There are also many types of laws that govern specific industries and activities, such as labour law, insurance law and aviation law.
The term “law” is also used in a more general sense to refer to a set of laws, or all the laws in a particular geographical area. For example, the expression “murder is against the law” means that murder is illegal in that geographic region. This usage of the word is common in both the United States and Canada. The word is also commonly used in the phrase “killin’ it” as a synonym for doing well in school or work. Zola was killin’ it in law school, and she knew she would have a great career as a lawyer! (The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms