Law is a system of rules created and enforced by social or governmental institutions to regulate human behaviour. Its precise definition is the subject of debate, but the central theme of law is that it creates and enforces a balance between the power of governments and society at large over individuals, based on principles of fairness and equality.
The law shapes politics, economics, history and society in many ways. A fundamental distinction is between ‘civil law’, where sources recognised as authoritative are, primarily, legislation passed by government and custom, and ‘common law’, where judgements by courts binding future judges are acknowledged as legal authority. The judicial system also recognises a number of specific areas of law, for example tort law which covers compensation when people or their property are damaged – such as car accidents or defamation – and criminal law, where offenses are committed against the state or community itself, such as murder.
In a well-ordered society, people often disagree with each other and conflicts arise. The law allows us to resolve these disputes peacefully, rather than through armed conflict. For example, if two people claim the same piece of land, the court can decide who owns it. The law also helps to ensure that the police and other public officials carry out their duties properly.
Another major function of the law is to protect individual rights and freedoms. This is reflected in the constitutions of most countries, which declare that all citizens are equal before the law and that nobody should be subjected to discrimination on any grounds, including race, gender, religion or political opinion. In addition, the law imposes certain obligations on all citizens, such as paying tax, and the law provides a framework for ensuring that the private and public sectors are managed effectively and efficiently.
Other functions of the law include regulating certain industries, such as water, electricity and gas, to ensure they are supplied at reasonable prices and are environmentally responsible. The law also regulates the activities of businesses, such as banks and insurance companies. It is this area of the law that often attracts controversy, as it can be seen to favour certain groups over others. For example, there are currently lively debates over the need to diversify the judging class and the extent to which the law should reflect society’s values. The Law article reviews and outlines recent changes to the law. It is written for an audience of professionals with a greater knowledge of the law and will often make comment on controversial legislative changes. If you require a professionally-written Law article, you can order one from WowEssays’ expert essay writers, who are highly qualified in this field. They can provide an original essay, written from scratch to your exact requirements, or a model Law article review which you can then tailor to your own needs. Our law essays are plagiarism-free, delivered on time and come at an affordable price.