Law is the rules and regulations that govern the behavior of the community. These laws are enforced by various social institutions such as the court system and the government. It is also a term that refers to those people who work in the law system.

Law can be divided into three categories: statutory law, case law and regulation. Statutory law is a type of law that is enacted by legislative bodies. This is different from case law, which is a set of rules on law that is guided by previous cases. The former is less formal and focuses on specific cases whereas the latter deals with general principles.

Regulation is another aspect of law that is less explicit and concerns the management of complex systems. Examples of regulated industries are energy, water and telecomms. In the past, private companies doing jobs previously controlled by the government have been bound by varying degrees of social responsibility.

In addition to its political and economic importance, law can be used as a framework to protect individuals against majorities or maintain the status quo. Some legal systems are better at fulfilling these purposes than others.

Legal issues can arise from sudden events, problems at work, or family issues. For example, if someone is accused of a crime, it is often in his or her best interest to consult a lawyer. Similarly, if a person has a problem with a debt, he or she may need to contact a lender. Other common issues include those dealing with consumer rights, immigration and housing.

In some areas of the world, law is governed by the Quran and Islamic Sharia. In others, such as the United States, it is derived through precedents and the application of analogy. Generally, the Quran acts as a source of further law through interpretation and the use of Ijma, or consensus.

In the United States, competition law is a type of law that regulates businesses that distort market prices. It traces back to anti-cartel statutes of the turn of the twentieth century. Competition law is also known as antitrust law.

Law has also been described as science and art of justice. However, many of the definitions of law raise the question of whether or not there is a moral component to it.

Those who study law will usually describe its relationship to politics, ideology, or other social structures. They will also describe the various types of legal systems and the role that law plays in social problems. A good example of an online service that can help researchers is Lexis/Nexis’ Shepard’s Citations.

There are also international aspects of law, which can be considered as public or private international law. International law is a branch of law that is a result of the relationships between states and nations. Moreover, there are treaties that deal with human rights and other matters.

The International Law Commission is a group of 34 experts from around the world who are appointed by the General Assembly to address the major issues of international law. Their work involves preparation of drafts on various aspects of international law and consultation with UN specialized agencies.