The law is the system of rules that a society develops in order to deal with crime, business agreements and social relationships. It can also refer to the profession of lawyers and judges, who are in charge of advising people about the law, representing them in court and making decisions and punishments for crimes.
The main purposes of the law are establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes and protecting liberties and rights. Different legal systems serve these functions differently, however. For example, a regime that is authoritarian may keep the peace and maintain order by oppressing minorities and repressing political opponents, while a democracy promotes social justice and ensures the rights of citizens.
There are four fundamental principles of the rule of law, which should be embraced by all legal systems: accountability to the law, fairness in application of the law, separation of powers and participation by individuals. In addition, the law should be clear and publicized, stable and enforced, and be free of arbitrariness.
A law article can be a tedious undertaking that requires extensive research and multiple drafts to compile. The first step is to decide on the topic and area in which you will write. This will determine the direction and purpose of your article. The second step is to find out about the laws governing your topic or area of interest.
Law is a complex subject that covers everything from criminal and civil justice to intellectual property and contract law. Consequently, it can be difficult to understand and apply. However, learning about the basics of law can help you become a better reader and citizen.
Blackstone’s view of the types of law was that there were common laws (natural, divine and revealed), statute law (human laws), equity and admiralty law (private and maritime law) and international law (political, treaty, and constitutional law). Thomas Aquinas expanded on this theory by adding natural law to the list.
Legal terms that you should familiarize yourself with include restraining order – an order from a judge to stop a person or company from doing something illegal until a hearing can be held. civil suit – an action brought to recover damages for injury or loss, such as a car accident or defamation lawsuit. settlement – when parties to a case agree to pay compensation in exchange for not having to go to trial. jury – the group of people who hear evidence and make a decision in a court of law.
You should also know the meaning of key legal terms such as writ – an order to appear before a judge, and injunction – a court order to stop an activity or place someone under arrest. Other important legal terms include docket – a log containing brief entries of court proceedings. en banc – “in the bench.” When a judge decides to convene a full court for a specific case rather than the usual quorum, it is called en banc.