Law is a social construct, involving rules and regulations established by a community or a nation that governs and regulates the behaviour of individuals or groups in a society. It is enforced by government and has many different purposes. The four principal ones are setting standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes and protecting liberties and rights. Law also shapes politics, economics, history and society in general.
Law can be made by a legislature through statutes and bills; by the executive through decrees and regulations; or by judges through precedent in common law jurisdictions. Private individuals can also create legally binding contracts and arbitration agreements that adopt alternative ways of resolving disputes to standard court litigation.
Legal philosophy provides diverse perspectives on the nature of law. Roscoe Pound’s definition of law is that it fulfils three main social wants – to set standards, to maintain order and to protect liberty and rights. Other approaches to the definition of law are the purist and functionalist views. Hans Kelsen argues that law is a normative science, i.e. that it outlines what should happen, rather than describing causes or effects. This differs from empirical scientific laws (such as the law of gravity) and social sciences, which describe the outcomes of events and processes.
The vast majority of laws are based on the customs and practices of a people, which are called customary law. These are based on a culture that varies from society to society and have evolved over time through experience, observation and mutual agreement. These are superior to any statutory law and must be obeyed by all citizens.
There are numerous branches of law, which are divided into three categories for convenience although many subjects intertwine and overlap. Criminal law involves the punishment of criminals, while civil law deals with disputes between citizens. Labour law involves the tripartite industrial relationship between worker, employer and trade union; and includes the right to strike. Medical jurisprudence and maritime law are two of the broadest branches of law, covering a wide range of issues.
Other areas of law include property law, which covers ownership of land and other physical assets; intellectual property law, which covers the ownership of artistic and literary works; and corporate law, which encompasses the regulation of companies operating in regulated industries such as banking, insurance or water.
Space law, which covers human activity in Earth orbit and outer space; and family law and inheritance law are also areas of the law. Immigration and nationality law cover the rights of foreigners to reside in a nation-state, to gain or lose citizenship, and to marry and divorce. Administrative law, constitutional law and tax law are other areas of the law.