LawFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaFor other uses, seeLaw (disambiguation)andLegal (disambiguation).This article is about asocial science. For the theory of law, seeJurisprudence."Legal concept" redirects here.

Lady Justice, agoddesssymbolisingjusticewho bears a sword symbolising the coercive power of atribunal,scales representing an objective standard by which competing claims are weighed and a blindfold indicating that justice should be impartial and meted out objectively, without fear or favor and regardless of money, wealth, power or identity.[1]Lawis asystemof rules that areenforced through social institutionsto govern behaviour.[2]Laws can be made by legislatures through legislation (resulting instatutes), the executive throughdecreesandregulations, or judges through bindingprecedent(normally incommon lawjurisdictions). Private individuals can create legally bindingcontracts, including (in some jurisdictions) arbitration agreements that may elect to accept alternative arbitration to the normal court process. The formation of laws themselves may be influenced by aconstitution(written or unwritten) and therightsencoded therein. The law shapespolitics,economics,historyandsocietyin various ways and serves as a mediator of relations betweenpeople.A general distinction can be made between (a)civil lawjurisdictions(includingcanonandsocialist law), in which the legislature or other central body codifies and consolidates their laws, and (b)common lawsystems, where judge-madeprecedentis accepted asbindinglaw. Historically,religious lawsplayed a significant role even in settling of secular matters, which is still the case in some religious communities, particularly Jewish, and some countries, particularly Islamic. IslamicSharia lawis the world's most widely used religious law.[3]The adjudication of the law is generally divided into two main areas referred to as (i) Criminal law and (ii) Civil law.Criminal lawdeals with conduct that is considered harmful tosocial orderand in which theguiltyparty may be imprisoned or fined.Civil law(not to be confused with civil law jurisdictions above) deals with the resolution oflawsuits(disputes) between individuals or organizations. These resolutions seek to provide alegal remedy(often monetarydamages) to the winninglitigant. Under civil law, the following specialties, among others, exist:Contract lawregulates everything from buying a bus ticket to trading onderivatives markets.Property lawregulates the transfer and title ofpersonal propertyandreal property.Trust lawapplies to assets held for investment and financial security.Tort lawallows claims for compensation if a person's property isharmed.Constitutional lawprovides a framework for the creation of law, the protection ofhuman rightsand the election of political representatives.Administrative lawgoverns what executive branch agencies may and may not do, procedures that they must follow to do it, and judicial review when a member of the public is harmed by an agency action.International lawgoverns affairs between sovereign states in activities ranging from trade to military action. To implement and enforce the law and provide services to the public by public servants, a government's bureaucracy, military, and police are vital. While all these organs of the state are creatures created and bound by law, an independentlegal professionand a vibrantcivil societyinform and support their progress.Law provides a rich source of scholarly inquiry intolegal history,philosophy,economic analysisandsociology. Law also raises important and complex issues concerning equality, fairness, andjustice. There is an old saying that 'all are equal before the law'. In 1894, the authorAnatole Francesaid sarcastically, "In its majestic equality, the law forbidsrich and poor aliketo sleep under bridges, beg in the streets, and steal loaves of bread."[4]Writing in 350 BC, theGreekphilosopherAristotledeclared, "Therule of lawis better than therule of any individual."[5]Mikhail Bakuninsaid: "All law has for its object to confirm and exalt into a system the exploitation of the workers by a ruling class".[6]Cicerosaid "more law, less justice".[7]Marxist doctrine asserts that law will not be required once the state haswithered away.[8]