Law is the set of rules created by governments and that form a framework for ensuring a peaceful society. It is enforced by the courts and, when broken, sanctions can be imposed. It is a complex subject that has given rise to many books and debates about its precise definition.

The main purposes of law include establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes and protecting liberty and rights. The specifics of these are influenced by the social and political context within which a nation is operating. A country’s laws can vary greatly from one another, depending on the culture and traditions of that place, but most laws share certain features.

A key principle of law is equality before the law, which means that people from all backgrounds and social classes are treated fairly by the courts. This principle is enshrined in the United Nations charter and is an important component of a healthy democracy. The concept of equal treatment is also the basis for a free press and for checks and balances on government power.

Among the other functions of law are establishing property ownership and preventing fraud, providing a forum for the resolution of conflicts between individuals and between groups of people and providing an infrastructure for the transfer of power to new leaders. The law can also be used to prevent war by setting the terms for resolving disputes and establishing treaties that are binding on all parties, according to Ohio State University.

There are a variety of different types of legal systems in the world, with most countries using some combination of common and civil law. Civil law is a set of standardized statutes that clearly defines the conditions under which a case can be brought to court, procedures for handling cases and the punishment for breaking a particular rule. It is a type of system that can be adapted to local customs and cultures, and it is found in about 60% of the world’s countries.

Appeals – The process of asking a higher court to review the decision of a lower court or tribunal. Parties can appeal a trial’s outcome or the way it was conducted, and both plaintiffs and defendants can file an appeal.

Brief – A written document submitted to the judges in a case that explains to them why they should rule in favor of the plaintiff or defendant. A brief is an essential part of a lawyer’s job and is an integral part of the presentation of evidence in a case.

Jurisdiction – The geographic area over which a court has the legal authority to hear and decide a case. A court’s jurisdiction can be limited, broad or concurrent.

The term “law” is also used by scientists to refer to a scientific phenomenon, such as the force of gravity (fg), the temperature of water (Tw) and the atomic mass number (m) of an element. However, the use of this term by scientists is often controversial because a scientific theory can be challenged and changed through research and testing, while a legal rule cannot.