The Concept of Law

Law is a system of rules which are made by a government and which citizens must obey or face punishment for breaking. Examples include laws about not stealing or murder.

Laws are enforced through social institutions, such as courts and police departments. They also determine the rights of individuals.

The concept of Law is often confused with a nation’s constitution, which provides the framework for its governance. In a constitutional system, the President has the power to sign laws or veto them and decline. The judicial branch of the federal government, including the Supreme Court and district courts, is responsible for enforcing the law.

Rule of law (nomocracy) is the principle that a legal system should govern a country rather than arbitrary decisions by officials. It ensures that everyone is treated equally under the law, and aims to prevent injustice.

Various types of law exist, including municipal and civil laws. These can be established by decrees, edicts and ordinances issued by absolute princes, as emperors or kings, or by the formal acts of the legislatures of free states.

Legislative law, a system of rules made by the legislative body of a country for the regulation and protection of society; it may be influenced by a written constitution or tacitly encoded in a customary legal system.

Legality of an agreement is a guarantee that it is legally binding. It is usually the first consideration when a contract is being drafted.