Law is a set of rules that govern social and governmental institutions. It has been called a science, an art, and a tool for justice. Laws are made by a group or individual legislator, or by an executive through decrees and court decisions. Private individuals can also create legal contracts and arbitration agreements. A law is an institution that protects people and property from harm. Here are some important definitions and concepts of law.
Rule of Law
Rule of law is the theoretical framework that envisages law as a relatively stable set of norms that govern individuals. Rule of law requires laws to be publicly accessible, and to be promulgated well before an individual’s responsibility to abide by them. It also requires laws to be proactive.
Principles of the Rule of Law
The rule of law is a basic principle of a democratic society. It ensures that laws are applied fairly and equally to all. It also ensures that there are clear separations of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. Furthermore, laws must be clear, comprehensible, and generally stable. They must also not impose undue cognitive burdens on people.
Legal norms
Legal norms are rules and principles that govern a society. They may be adopted by legislative bodies, but they are also derived from other sources. These norms are validated by the rule of recognition, which specifies the contribution of the different sources to law.
Forms of legality
In legal practice, forms are often used in transactions between two parties. Although the term “form” has many definitions, they are typically defined as “a printed document, containing blank spaces,” according to Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary. Forms can be found in many sources, including law books, government websites, and law libraries.
Values of legality
Values of legality in law can be divided into four broad categories: legal, political, economic, and moral. The first category includes legal norms, while the second includes non-legal norms. All three are related to a certain degree of judicial autonomy.