A law is a system of rules that governs the behavior of members of a society or group. Laws may be enacted by the state or may come from other sources, such as custom and religion. The laws of a country are generally enforced by the police, courts and other government agencies. Laws can be created for many purposes, such as ensuring public safety or maintaining social order. Laws can also be used to control economic growth and protect property rights.
The rule of law is a principle that describes the extent to which a polity respects its citizens’ rights and freedoms and limits the power of its officials. It entails the assumption that the creation and enforcement of laws are publicly disclosed, that every citizen is equal before the law and that no person (including the highest ranking government officials) enjoys privileges not extended to all other citizens or immunity from legal sanctions.
Law is a broad concept that encompasses numerous fields of study, practice and research. For example, contracts regulate the exchange of goods, services or money; criminal law prohibits wrongdoing and punishes violators; and constitutional law outlines fundamental principles that are binding on government and citizens. Other areas of law include family law, immigration law, corporate law, environmental law, and biolaw.
Although some theorists have interpreted law as simply power backed by threats, most governmental systems do not subscribe to this view of legality. Instead, most legal theories seek to establish a set of standards that define the boundaries of acceptable behavior in society. Jeremy Bentham, for example, proposed that law should reflect the natural process of cause and effect; others have suggested that law should be moral and immutable.
Laws are a tool that serves many different purposes in society, and different legal systems serve these purposes differently. For example, an authoritarian government may keep the peace and maintain the status quo, but it may also oppress minorities or political opponents. Conversely, a democratic government may promote social justice and allow for gradual but orderly social change.
The extent to which a legal system fulfills its objectives will influence the extent to which people believe that they are treated fairly and with respect by their government. A key measure of this respect is whether all citizens face the same consequences for wrongdoing, regardless of their wealth or social standing. Moreover, are there checks on the government’s power, such as an independent judiciary and a free press?