Law is a set of rules that are enforced by governmental institutions and social organizations. It serves to regulate the relationships between individuals and society, and can also serve to protect individual rights.
Law is a legal term that is used to describe the entire body of laws of a nation. These laws are publicized, and apply evenly. If an act violates a law, the person will face fines or jail time.
Law can be divided into three categories: civil, criminal, and administrative. A civil legal system consists of judicial decisions and statutes, while a criminal legal system deals with governmental prosecution of crimes. In both cases, a court imposes a penalty.
Law can be made by a single legislator or by a group of legislative bodies. Some common legal systems include doctrines of precedent, which means that a decision by a higher court is binding on lower courts.
The rule of law requires that all parties are equal before the law, that decisions are fair, and that the law is enforceable. It requires that measures are taken to ensure that the government is accountable and that the law is supreme.
The rule of law is an integral part of the United Nations (UN) system. This includes a working definition that is based on four universal principles.
The first is equality before the law. This implies that everyone is subject to the law, and that the rule of law is the basis of all political and economic activities.
