Law is a set of rules which govern a community or nation. It is enforceable through social institutions.
Law is an essential part of society, helping maintain the orderly and peaceful development of a society. In addition, it serves to protect individual rights and maintain social justice.
There are three basic types of laws. These are public law, private law, and religious law. A law may be a general rule or a specific one.
Public law includes government-made laws, such as legislation, regulations, and bills of exchange. Governments and federal agencies create these rules. Some of these laws are imposed by the president or congress, while others are made by courts and legislative bodies.
Private law is composed of contracts and agreements that are legally binding. Such contracts and agreements include property, mortgages, and rental agreements. Also, private individuals can establish arbitration agreements.
Religious law is based on religious precepts, including halakha, qiyas, and the Quran. It is also a source of further law through interpretation.
Several nations have different legal systems. Some serve their purpose better than others. For example, the Canadian legal system provides a fair and balanced application of law to all citizens.
The United States has two legal systems: civil law and common law. Civil law legal systems are generally shorter and involve less detailed judicial decisions.
Common law legal systems explicitly acknowledge court decisions as “law.” They include the doctrine of precedent, in which a court decision binds future decisions.