Law is a system of rules that a group or society recognises as regulating the actions of its members. It may be enforced by a government and is generally codified as statutes, codes or decisions. Individuals can also create legally binding contracts, and arbitration agreements offer alternatives to court litigation. Law shapes politics, economics and history in many ways and serves as a mediator of relations between people.
Among the broad categories of law are administrative, constitutional, contract and criminal laws. Constitutional law deals with the legal basis of a nation, including the supremacy of its courts. Administrative law involves the administration of justice, and includes public and private services such as utilities (water, electricity, gas) and banking. It may include regulations on a number of issues such as privacy, equality and consumer protection. Contract law is the study of legal obligations and duties, while torts and intellectual property are areas of civil wrongs. Criminal law covers offences against the state and the rights of citizens, while family and employment law are more personal concerns.
There are various law journals and magazines that analyse specific areas of law. These can provide an insight into the debates and arguments that surround a particular topic, and contribute to the development of case law by providing legal precedents. In addition, the scholarly community has established a range of academic disciplines that examine law at deeper levels. See jurisprudence; legal theory; and law and society for more on this.