Law is the body of rules that governs human affairs and provides a sense of stability to society. It shapes politics, economics, history and social relations in different ways from country to country. It is a contested subject and the study of it requires a certain level of intellectualism. It is important for students to be well informed so they can make intelligent choices when studying this subject.
It can be divided into three broad categories: natural law; positive law; and criminal law. Natural law is a set of principles of morality derived from ideas of natural justice and the will of God. Positive law is a system of enforceable guidelines devised by humans which are not derived from a higher power but are considered to be in the best interests of mankind and based on the principles of natural justice and the will of man.
In the modern world, most countries have a civil law tradition (including those which were once colonised by continental European nations). In mixed jurisdictions, this law coexists with other legal traditions such as customary law or Islamic law.
This branch of the law includes contracts, property, torts and administrative laws. Contract law regulates agreements between two or more people and covers everything from buying a bus ticket to trading options on a derivatives market. Property law establishes a person’s rights and duties toward tangible property, including land or buildings. Tort law deals with injuries caused to individuals, such as when they are harmed in car accidents or by defamation. Administrative law involves the rules that must be followed by the government when carrying out its functions, such as taxation and banking regulation.
Whether the laws of a country are just or not is largely dependent on the balance of political and military power. This is reflected in the fact that there are many revolts and revolutions against existing political-legal authority every year.
The nature of the law is also determined by the culture and customs of a people. This is why it is so important for people to understand the different legal systems of the world and how they operate. The concept of law is a complex one and it is impossible to fully encompass the various issues that this subject involves in one article. Nevertheless, there are some basics that all students should know about Law.