Law is a body of rules created and enforced by social or governmental institutions to regulate human behavior. The precise nature of law is a topic of longstanding debate, with various schools of thought on the subject. Some think of law as a system of justice, while others view it as a normative science.
Whether law is a system of justice or a normative science, most scholars agree that it serves a crucial function in society: to create and maintain stability in a free and democratic state. It also provides checks on power and ensures that people do not have unchecked access to wealth or status, which could result in corruption and other forms of injustice.
The concept of law is constantly evolving, with new legal issues and technologies creating new needs for law. The modern world’s complex systems of government, military and policing pose particular challenges to the rule of law that earlier writers such as Montesquieu and Locke could not have imagined.
A basic definition of law is a set of standards that governs a person’s actions and relations with other people. This includes the rights and responsibilities that come with citizenship, such as the right to free speech and assembly. It also encompasses the legal consequences of a person’s actions, such as criminal punishment and taxation.
The study of law is a diverse field, with many specialties and subfields. Constitutional law focuses on the legal foundations of a nation, including its civil and political rights. Criminal law is the study of crimes that carry a penalty such as fines, jail sentences and death penalties. Family law covers marriage, divorce and children’s rights. Employment law focuses on the relationship between a worker and employer, and includes the right to unionize and the right to a minimum wage.
To understand law, it is important to start with primary sources of law, or primary authority, in a jurisdiction. These include constitutions, case law and statutes. It is also important to search secondary sources of law, such as treatises and legal encyclopedias. These sources will help you to find the context in which a legal issue has been decided, which will help to clarify the meaning of a statute or case.
Once you have found the primary source of a statute or case, it is essential to read it carefully. Pay attention to the words that are used, especially those describing what is allowed and not allowed. For example, a statute may use the phrase “may not” instead of “shall not,” which makes it less clear. It is also helpful to look up any terms that you do not know, and to interpret the statute so that it does not produce absurd or improbable results. Finally, it is a good idea to check the law citations of your primary sources in a legal citator. This will give you a list of all the cases that have cited your source, which can lead you to additional sources.