Law is a system of rules that governs the conduct of individuals and communities. These rules are enforced by governmental institutions. They may be made by the executive or a legislative body. Some of these laws are written into statutes, while others are a result of decisions by courts.
Legal systems can be split into common law and civil law. In both systems, there are arguments and theories that affect the legal process. For example, in a common law system, the doctrine of precedent means that a court’s decisions on a particular issue bind future decisions in that same case. However, in a civil law system, the same court’s decision can be reversed or overruled.
The modern legal profession includes lawyers, judges, and other court officials. Lawyers are often supervised by a government agency or an independent regulating body. Attorneys must have a bachelor’s degree in the relevant field and have passed a qualifying examination. They can also have a higher academic degree, such as a doctorate, in law.
A lawyer’s duties include representing clients during litigation and investigations. Some attorneys work in private practice. Others work for government agencies and corporations.
The concept of law traces back to ancient Greek philosophy. It first emerged through the notion of justice. Later, it re-entered mainstream culture through the writings of Thomas Aquinas.
The modern concept of law refers to a set of rules that are enforceable by governmental and social institutions. Those institutions are grouped into three categories: the legislature, the executive branch, and the judiciary. While the legislative and executive branches of a government may make laws, the judiciary can strike down unconstitutional laws and declare them invalid.
There are four main types of law: statutory, administrative, civil, and regulatory. Detailed legal systems require a significant amount of human elaboration. Legislative and administrative bodies issue regulations, which specify the agency’s plans to follow the law. Lastly, federal and state courts review and interpret laws to ensure that they are constitutional. This allows citizens to access justice.
The laws that govern most of the world are based on civil law. Civil law legal systems, which are often shorter, include judicial decisions and legislative statutes. Common law legal systems, which are longer, include doctrines of precedent and explicit acknowledgment of a judicial authority’s power to make law.
Constitutional law involves issues of voting, electoral silence, voter registration, and voting machines. Election law addresses the problem of electoral fraud. Similarly, regulation deals with the provision of public services, utilities, and water. Regulations are published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and the United States Statutes at Large.
Regardless of which type of law you’re interested in, it’s important to understand the rules of the law. By reading up on law, you can better prepare yourself for the practice. You can use online resources, such as Lexis/Nexis’ Shepard’s Citations, to research topics.
Law is a rapidly changing science. As a result, it is sometimes referred to as an art. Although many people think of law as a science, it is, in fact, a social institution.