Law is the set of rules that a society or government has developed to deal with crime, trade, social relations, property and finance. These laws are usually arranged in codes and can be found in most countries.
A law is a rule or instruction given by a government that its citizens must follow. For example, if you break a law about not stealing you could be fined or sent to jail.
In the United States, federal regulations govern business transactions, such as banking, insurance and employment laws. Without these laws it would be difficult for individuals or businesses to conduct their activities.
The word law comes from the Old Testament, where it is a word that relates to God’s commandments and regulations. The word was also used in the New Testament to refer to the laws that God put in place for his people.
There are many different ways that people define the term law. Some people use the term to mean something that is written down and abides by, while others use it to refer to the entire system of laws that a nation has created.
Kelsen’s Definition: – Hans Kelsen defines Law as a “normative science” that consists of the rules that a government or society has developed to regulate crime, trade, social relations, property and finances.
Idealistic Definitions: – Roman and other ancient jurists defined Law in light of Justinian’s idealistic nature.
John Austin’s Definition: – An English Jurist, John Austin defined law as the aggregate set of rules set by a man as politically superior or sovereign to men as political subjects.
Holland’s Definition: – Thomas Erskine Holland, who followed Austin’s concept and nature of Law, attempted to define Law as a General rule of external human action enforced by a political sovereign devoid of moral, ethical or ideal elements which are foreign to law and Jurisprudence.
Gray’s Definition: – According to John Chipman Gray, the law is a set of rules that a court has established for determining legal rights and duties.
Some of the main purposes of law are to keep the peace, maintain the status quo, preserve individual rights, protect minorities against majorities and promote social justice.
The law can also be used to control the actions of a person or group that does not conform to the established rules and beliefs, such as a drug dealer or gang leader.
The legal system in a country can be very complex, and may be subject to change from time to time due to changes in politics. Several types of legal systems have emerged over the years, and some serve better than others for certain functions. Some are more efficient in keeping the peace than others. Some are better at protecting individuals against groups of people that oppose them, while others are more effective in promoting social justice.