Law is the system of rules, customs and guidelines enforced by a controlling authority such as a government or social institution. It governs human behavior by imposing certain norms of morality and order on the people who live in society. The term law may also refer to the profession of lawyers and judges who advise and represent people on their legal rights and obligations, or give decisions and punishments.
The most important function of law is to control human behaviour. It ensures that everybody abides by the same rules and is treated equally. It is a powerful force in the way a nation functions, and it can serve to keep peace and maintain the status quo, protect minorities against majorities, provide social justice and allow for orderly social change. Different nations have varying types of laws. Some are more authoritarian and impose peace on their subjects through violence, while others allow their citizens greater freedom and rights.
A good law is based on principles of equality, fairness and rationality. It provides clear and publicized guidelines for people to follow, and it ensures that officials and agents are accountable. It should be transparent and stable, so that people can plan their actions over time with reasonable confidence. The rule of law also helps to prevent the Hobbesian war of all against all that can be created by anarchy or unchecked power.
Some of the main areas of law are employment and labour law, land law, property law, family law and criminal law. These laws are designed to regulate the relationship between employers, employees and trade unions, and ensure that everyone is paid their proper wages, has adequate health and safety protection and a reasonable standard of living. In the case of criminal law, it ensures that the accused are afforded a fair trial and do not face oppressive treatment from authorities.
Other areas of law include maritime law, aviation law, commercial transaction law and medical jurisprudence. Laws concerning land and real estate include property ownership, title deeds, lease agreements, mortgages, covenants, and easements. In addition, it includes the statutory systems for land registration and the division of property rights. Property law also covers intellectual property, which includes trademarks and copyrights, and company law, which deals with the structure and running of corporations.
Other areas of law include immigration law and nationality, which regulate the right of individuals to work in a country that is not their own and to acquire or lose citizenship. Family law includes marriage and divorce proceedings and rights to children and money in the event of separation. Finally, legal ethics and evidence law deal with the principles and rules that judges and lawyers must abide by in their work. In common law legal systems, judgments by judges are considered to be law and are binding on lower courts. This is called the principle of stare decisis. In contrast, in civil law legal systems, legislative statutes and executive regulations are given priority over judicial rulings.