Laws

Laws are a system of rules that are created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior. Laws have been made to govern behavior in all human societies, although its exact definition is a matter of ongoing debate. It has been variously described as a science and the art of justice.

History of Laws

The history of law traces back to the development of civilization. Ancient Egyptian law, dating as far back as 3000 BC, had a civil code that was probably broken into twelve books. It was based on the concept of Ma'at, characterized by tradition, rhetorical speech, social equality and impartiality.

Types of Laws

There are several types of laws, including:

• Civil Law: A legal system originating in mainland Europe and adopted in much of the world. The civil law system is intellectualized within the framework of Roman law, and its core principles are codified into a referable system, which serves as the primary source of law.

• Common law: A body of law derived from judicial decisions of courts and similar tribunals. The defining characteristic of “common law” is that it arises as precedent.

• Statutory law: Written law set down by a body of legislature or by a singular legislator. This is as opposed to oral or customary law; or regulatory law promulgated by the executive or common law of the judiciary.

• Religious law: Legal systems that derive law from holy texts or people who claim to have special religious insight. An example is Sharia law, which is used as the primary legal system in several countries, including Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Law Enforcement

Law enforcement is the activity of some members of government who act in an organized manner to enforce the law by discovering, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms governing that society.

Legal Profession

The legal profession is a vocation that takes on the practical application of legal theories and knowledge to solve specific individualized problems, or to advance the interests of those who hire lawyers to perform legal services.

See Also

• Constitution
• Criminal law
• Jurisprudence
• Legal rights
• Rule of law

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