Law is a system of rules that governs a society. It can be written or unwritten, and it may consist of customs or policies recognized by a community or imposed by its government. The study of laws is called jurisprudence.
In a country that has a written constitution, laws are created by a legislature and are enforceable through the courts. A nation with a common law tradition bases its laws on historical precedent and case law.
Generally speaking, legal systems are designed to (1) keep the peace and maintain order, (2) promote social justice, (3) preserve the individual’s rights and liberties, (4) protect minorities against majorities, and (5) allow for peaceful, orderly social change. Many different types of legal systems exist, from those based on natural law to those that are heavily influenced by religion or culture.
Law covers a wide range of topics, including contract law (which regulates agreements to exchange goods or services), family law (divorce proceedings and the rights of children), property law (including ownership and real estate), criminal law, constitutional law, and commercial law. Other areas of law include immigration law, nationality law, and family and civil rights laws.
A law that defines a certain category of behavior, such as larceny or murder, and prohibits it. A person who breaks the law can be punished by being sent to jail.
An accusation of wrongdoing made in writing by a prosecutor, typically for a felony offense. A formal indictment is usually only used for serious crimes.
The principle that one’s actions have predictable consequences if they are not contrary to a moral principle, such as the principle of self-preservation. It is sometimes considered a fundamental aspect of human nature, and some people believe that it is divinely mandated.
The legal system that originated in England and is now used in the United States, which relies on articulation of legal principles through historical succession of court decisions rather than on statutes passed by a legislature. Blackstone also emphasized the concept of natural law, and Thomas Aquinas distinguished between civil and divine law.