Law is the system of rules enforced by social or governmental institutions to regulate human behavior. Its precise definition is a matter of longstanding debate.
The law serves many important functions in society. It provides a means to resolve disputes, protects people’s property and promotes safety and security. It is also used to punish criminals and provide redress for those who have been wronged. Law shapes politics, economics and history in various ways, but its greatest impact is likely to be on individual behavior.
In modern societies, the law is often separated into two domains: public and private. Public laws concern government and society, such as constitutional law, administrative law and criminal law. Private laws, on the other hand, govern the relations between individuals and/or organizations. These include contracts, property and torts/delicts.
A well-functioning legal system is one that respects the rights of its citizens, provides fair access to justice, and is transparent and accountable. It is a key factor in the development of stable, prosperous and secure nations.
Laws can be created or enforced in a variety of ways, from collective legislative actions in which a parliament or legislature codifies and consolidates its laws into statutes, through executive decrees and regulations, or by judges creating precedent (called case law) in common law jurisdictions. The formation of laws is influenced by the country’s constitution, whether written or not, and the underlying political landscape, which differs widely from nation to nation.
Regardless of how they are created or enforced, laws have the same underlying purpose: to create and sustain a peaceful, prosperous and safe society. These goals are best achieved when a government demonstrates a commitment to four universal principles: rule of law, good governance, open government and accessible and impartial justice.
The word “law” comes from Middle English lagu, from Old English laga (“things laid down”) and Proto-Germanic *legh
The most common meaning of the word is the set of rules a state or nation develops to deal with crimes, business agreements and other human relationships. The law can also be used to refer to the profession that studies and practices the law: a lawyer or a solicitor. The law is an important part of a well-functioning society, but it can be difficult to understand and keep up with. For these reasons, many people find it useful to have a legal dictionary at hand. A good legal dictionary will include entries for all the most common terms, from constitutional law to torts and delicts. A legal dictionary should also contain definitions for technical terms like en banc, a term that refers to all the judges of a court sitting together to hear a case, instead of the usual practice of having cases heard by panels of three judges. An example of en banc is the Ninth Circuit court of appeals in the United States, where cases are normally heard by a panel of 11 randomly selected judges.