Law is a set of rules that are enforceable by social institutions. These institutions include governmental institutions, courts, and the public. The law provides order and stability in society. It also protects individual rights.
There are many different kinds of laws. Some are created by the government, while others are made by private individuals. Laws can be categorized into three categories: civil, common, and criminal. Each category has its own purpose.
Civil laws are enacted to provide compensation for victims of injury or disease. Criminal laws are enacted to maintain order in society.
Civil and common legal systems are usually shorter and less detailed than other legal systems. Common legal systems explicitly recognize that court decisions are “law”.
The doctrine of precedent means that a court’s decision in one case is binding in future cases. Case law involves unique disputes that are decided by the courts.
Legal systems can vary from country to country. In the United States, federal law is defined by the federal courts. State law is typically based on a state constitution. If the state constitution does not agree with the law, the state courts may declare it invalid.
A common legal issue is immigration. Immigrants have the right to work in a country and to live there. Other issues that arise in the legal system are consumer rights, housing issues, and debt.
Laws are created by government or by a group of legislators. However, private actors are also accountable to the law.