Law is a set of rules created and enforced by social or governmental institutions to govern the behavior of people. Laws are created for many purposes, including establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes and protecting liberties and rights. The precise definition of law is a matter of debate. Generally, laws are imposed by an authority and must be obeyed or else punished.
The word “law” comes from the Old Norse lag, meaning “a fixed tune” or “an arrangement of things”. The term was first recorded in English around 1000 AD, but its origin is much earlier. The word is most often associated with a rule or set of rules created by the state and enforced by that government, although it can also be used to describe a way of life that promotes peace and discourages violence.
The concept of law is a complex one, and a number of books have been written on the subject. Some authors, such as Max Weber, have reshaped thinking about the nature of power and societal control by looking at the role of the law. Others have focused on how the law affects individual rights and freedoms, with special attention to gender and class issues.
Different countries have different legal systems. For example, the United States employs a constitutional system that limits federal powers. However, the Constitution gives Congress the power to enact statutes, and these are codified in the United States Code. In addition, some statutes give executive branch agencies the power to create regulations that are enforceable in court. The courts interpret the meaning of these statutes and regulations, and their interpretations have broader legal weight than any specific case can have. This principle is known as stare decisis, and it helps to make laws more consistent and predictable for future cases.
Private individuals can also create legal contracts and arbitration agreements. These are binding on both parties, and they can resolve disputes that would otherwise be heard in a court of law. In some areas, the federal law preempts state law, while in other areas, a smaller number of federal statutes exist alongside state law.
Religious jurisdictions have their own sets of laws based on religious precepts. These are typically compiled through a process of Qiyas (reasoning by analogy), Ijma (consensus) and the law of precedent. The Jewish Halakha and Islamic Shari’a are examples of this type of law.