The Basics of Law

Law is the branch of the social sciences that deals with how people use their legal systems to establish standards, maintain order and resolve disputes. It is an important part of any society, as it protects people’s rights and liberties.

In a common law system, the courts make their decisions on equal footing with statutes and regulations adopted by legislatures. Courts also have the power to make “precedent” (Latin for to stand by) decisions, which bind lower courts and future cases to assure that similar results are reached.

Typically, these rules are written in the form of statutes or codes that set out what is expected of both parties in a given situation. They can cover topics such as conduct, duties, expectations, damages in cases of breach, and how to resolve conflicts.

There are also many different types of laws. They range from laws about land and movable goods, to laws relating to intellectual property and company law.

Laws are often based on a religion, and they can also be inspired by an individual’s personal beliefs. The Jewish Halakha and Islamic Sharia are two examples of this.

Other types of law include administrative law and civil rights, which are concerned with government regulation. These rules regulate the provision of public services and utilities, such as energy, water, gas and telecomms.