Law is a set of rules that are established by a government and which citizens must follow. These laws often dictate punishments for breaking them. For example, murder is against the law in most countries. The word “law” can also be used more broadly to describe all of a nation’s laws.
There are many different definitions of law, and some people have opposing views about whether it should include morality. For example, some philosophers have argued that laws should be purely utilitarian and only serve the interests of society. Others have argued that laws should incorporate morality and be based on natural principles. It is important to consider the definition of law because it determines how laws are created and enforced.
The legal system is a complex and ever-changing network of rules, statutes, precedents, and other legal tools that govern the actions of individuals and organizations in a particular place and time. Oxford Reference offers comprehensive coverage of this broad discipline with concise definitions and in-depth, specialist encyclopedic entries covering the major terms, concepts, processes, and organization of law in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. This authoritative reference covers everything from criminal, tax, and social security law to family and employment law and major debates in legal theory.
The law is a system of rules that a specific country or community recognizes as binding and that regulates the actions of its members. In the United States, this includes federal and state laws as well as judicial decisions that interpret laws and regulations. The law is an integral part of a democracy and provides the structure that allows citizens to live together peacefully, even when they disagree on many issues.
In the United States, the law begins with the Constitution, which gives Congress limited powers over areas like military, money, foreign affairs (especially international treaties), tariffs, and intellectual property. The federal statutes are then compiled and codified into the United States Code. The law also includes executive branch regulations, which are published in the Federal Register and codified into the Code of Federal Regulations. Many lawsuits turn on the meaning of these federal statutes and regulations, and judicial interpretations of them have the force of law under the Chevron doctrine.
Moreover, the law also refers to specific branches of law such as contract law, which regulates agreements between two parties for the exchange of goods or services. Banking and financial laws set minimum standards for the amount of capital that banks must hold and rules about best practice for investment, and regulatory laws cover industries such as water, energy, and telecommunications. These laws help to keep the economy stable and ensure that public services are provided for all. Without them, we would not be able to enjoy the comforts of modern life.