Law is a system of rules that defines the framework for a peaceful society. If those rules are broken sanctions can be imposed, for example punishments such as fines or imprisonment. Law shapes politics, economics, history and society in a multitude of ways. It also forms the basis for a range of different careers, from being a lawyer to working in the military.
The word law is most commonly used to refer to a specific set of rules created by an authority. Most commonly, this authority is a government which issues and enforces the laws in a country. These laws are usually considered in a certain way, for example, they may be written down or codified and are generally agreed upon by a supervising body. Some examples of laws include the prohibition against insider trading and due process.
Many people consider the concept of law to be a very complex one and have numerous theories on what it actually is. For example, some people argue that at its most basic, law is simply power. If a sovereign has the power to make and enforce a rule, then that rule is considered law, even if it’s not fair or just. This is a view known as legal positivism.
Others think that laws are a combination of both power and morality. For example, the prohibition against insider trading might be a power consideration, but it also reflects a moral position against cruelty. However, this view is sometimes criticised for being too limited in its conception of what constitutes a law.
The field of Law encompasses many areas of study, from a general overview to more focused topics such as international law, criminal law, civil rights and the law of science. It is possible to study the law at university level, although most universities do not have dedicated Law departments.
A broad definition of the law would include all rules that have been formally adopted and put into practice by a government or organisation. This includes the constitution and all other documents that define the governing structure of the entity in question. It would also include all judicial decisions and any other type of legislative or administrative document.
There are several types of law, with the most common being civil and criminal law. Civil law is the more common of the two and exists on all continents. It is characterised by the use of legal precedent, where decisions by previous judges bind lower courts to ensure consistency. Criminal law, on the other hand, is more focused on individual cases and typically uses jury trials. Other types of law include company law, family law and transactional laws such as contract law, insurance, bills of exchange and insolvency law. Biolaw is an increasingly important area of the law and concerns the intersection between the laws of biology and medicine.