Law is a set of rules made by the government and which citizens must obey. A person who breaks the law can be punished, for example fined or sent to jail. Law can also refer to all the laws of a nation or region. There are many different types of law and it is important to study them all.
The main purpose of the law is to establish standards, maintain order, resolve disputes and protect liberties and rights. It can be applied in a variety of ways and is reflected in numerous fields such as contract law, criminal law, family law, property law and more.
There are several aspects of the law that are of interest to researchers, for example legal practice; legal education; and legal philosophy. Other areas include constitutional law and the relationship of the law to political structures; international law; and the role of the law in promoting social justice.
The rule of law is a principle that states that public and private institutions, including the State itself, are accountable under the law. It requires that the law be clear, publicly promulgated, stable and applied evenly and that it respects human rights, property and contracts. The rule of law also requires adherence to the principles of supremacy and integrity of the law, equality before the law, participation in decision-making, separation of powers and legal transparency. It is a framework for governance that is compatible with international human rights norms and standards.