Law is the body of rules created and enforced by a sovereign entity that governs people, societies, countries or empires. Its precise definition is a subject of longstanding debate.
The primary functions of the law are to keep peace, maintain the status quo, preserve individual rights and liberties, protect minorities against majorities, and promote social justice. Depending on the political landscape of each nation, some legal systems perform these tasks better than others. For example, a nation ruled by a tyrant may maintain peace but also oppress minorities and political opponents.
In general, a legal system must be transparent and easy to understand. This is important for citizens to be able to plan their lives with reasonable confidence that they will know the legal consequences of different actions. It should also be reasonably stable in order to facilitate planning over time.
A legal article should be free of jargon and should include examples, diagrams or other visuals to make it easier for non-lawyers to understand the topic. It should also provide an overview of the legal system and a historical context for the topic, as well as a summary of relevant literature and an analysis of existing arguments.
A good legal article will explore controversial issues and examine alternative viewpoints. It should also be able to answer FAQs (frequently asked questions) about the topic. Careful research into statutes, regulations, scholarly journals, and legal databases is essential. It is also helpful to look for gaps in the current legal literature that an article could fill.