law

Law is a system of rules created and enforced by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior, preserve order, and resolve disputes. It governs relationships among individuals, organizations, and the state, and it provides a framework for determining rights, duties, and remedies when those rights are violated.

Its sources include constitutions, statutes enacted by legislatures, decisions of courts (case law), administrative regulations, and customary practices. In some jurisdictions, religious or traditional laws also play a role. Law is often divided into public law, which governs the state’s actions and relations with individuals, and private law, which regulates relationships among private persons and groups. It is also classified as criminal law, civil or private law, constitutional law, administrative or regulatory law, and international law.

The purposes of law include maintaining social order, protecting fundamental human rights, solving disputes, allocating resources, and promoting justice and public welfare. The rule of law principle holds that laws should be publicly promulgated, equally enforced, and applied without arbitrary power, with due process and independent judiciary as core elements.

Legal systems are administered by institutions such as legislatures, which create laws; the executive, which enforces them; and the judiciary, which interprets and applies them in courts. Judges interpret statutes, apply precedent, and correct errors through appeals. Law also relies on policing, administration, and sometimes customary or community institutions to resolve conflicts.

Historically, law has evolved from ancient codes and religious norms to modern secular systems. Civil law emphasizes comprehensive codes and written statutes, while common law relies on judicial decisions and precedent. International law governs relations between states and organizations and includes treaties, customary international law, and human rights law. Legal systems continue to adapt to new technologies, globalization, and social change.