What Is Law?
Law is a system of rules that a society or government develops in order to deal with crime, business agreements and social relationships. The term can also be used to refer to the profession of lawyers, judges and others who work in this area.
The law is a foundation that allows for the peaceful transfer of power, ensures equality and fairness in all areas of life and provides for a balance between the individual’s rights and the responsibilities of the state. The laws of the land must be publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated and should be consistent with international human rights norms and standards.
There are a number of different types of law that exist, and they can be broadly categorized as civil, constitutional, criminal, administrative, property, religious and international. Each of these has its own particular branches and areas of application. Civil law is generally a system of legal statutes created by the legislature that clearly defines cases that can be brought to court, procedures for handling them and punishments for offenses. Constitutional law, on the other hand, outlines the basic structure of the country and its political process. Criminal law regulates the behavior of individuals, ensuring they do not infringe on the rights and freedoms of others. Constitutional and administrative law, however, focuses on the duties of public officials.
Religion plays a significant role in some countries’ legal systems, with Jewish Halakha and Islamic Sharia acting as the primary source of law alongside secular legislation. The Christian canon, too, still survives as a legal system in some church communities.
Law also helps to settle disputes between people, and to protect people’s property. For example, if two people claim ownership of the same piece of property, rather than fight each other, they will turn to the courts to decide who really owns it. The law can also help to prevent fraud and corruption, by establishing rules that must be followed by businesses and government officials.
In addition, the law can be a form of protection for minorities against majorities, and it can provide for orderly social change. Some legal systems, however, are more effective at fulfilling these roles than others. For example, authoritarian regimes might keep the peace and maintain the status quo, but they may oppress minorities and political opponents or allow for corruption in high-level positions (e.g. Burma or Zimbabwe). Similarly, colonialism can bring peace to a region, but it often comes at the cost of suppressing indigenous culture and imposing western values on native populations. The Charter of the United Nations calls on the Organization to help in the settlement of international disputes and promote the development of international law and its codification. International law also includes a number of treaties that cover various subjects, including human rights and disarmament. These are generally deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Some of these are multilateral, involving multiple signatories and a binding effect. Others are bilateral or regional in scope and only have binding effects on states that have ratified them.