Law is the set of rules created and enforced by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior. Its precise definition is a matter of longstanding debate, and it has been described as both a science and an art of justice.
Laws can be both positive and negative, and can be either natural or artificial. Natural laws are based on simple principles that can be proven under certain circumstances, such as “the force of gravity between any two objects (like an apple and the Earth) depends on their masses and the distance between them.” Artificial laws are based on complex policies, programs, and procedures that have been developed through legislative or executive authority.
Many different types of legal systems exist around the world, and each has its own set of laws. However, there are some common themes among them all. In all legal systems, law is a tool for regulating society and controlling the activities of individuals. This includes both positive and negative laws, which are designed to prevent or encourage specific behaviors.
Positive laws are those that are backed up by incentives, such as rewards and punishments. Negative laws, on the other hand, are backed by the threat of coercion. The latter is often used by tyrannical governments to oppress their citizens. For example, the military in Myanmar recently imprisoned the democratically elected and Nobel Peace Prize-winning leader of that country, Aung San Suu Kyi, who was acting under color of law.
The meaning of law is closely related to a society’s political structure and ideology. For more information about this, see constitution; political party; and political system. Law also relates to social justice issues, such as the treatment of minorities and the protection of human rights. This is covered in articles such as censorship; crime and punishment; and police.
The rule of law is an ideal that describes a society where all individuals, including the ruling class, are subject to publicly disclosed and equally enforced legal codes and processes. This can be achieved in a variety of ways, such as through a constitutional document or a civil rights charter. Other societal goals that can be accomplished through the law include ensuring that there is no discrimination; protecting individual privacy; and providing a framework for orderly social change. These goals can be fulfilled by a wide range of tools, such as the police; arrest and interrogation; criminal procedure; and search and seizure. These tools are often used in conjunction with one another to achieve the goal of a well-functioning legal system. They can include a written constitution, judicial review, and the doctrine of precedent or stare decisis.
