Law is a set of rules that govern the behaviour of people. It shapes politics, economics and history and serves as a mediator of relations between people.
Laws can be created by a government, which makes them mandatory for everyone to obey or face punishment. For example, if you steal something you could be fined or put in jail depending on what the law says about that crime.
The word law is used to describe a body of rules that are enforced through social institutions for the regulation of behaviour. These can be made by a collective legislature, through statutes or executive decrees and regulations, by judges through binding precedent, or by private individuals in common law jurisdictions.
There are two main types of law: written and unwritten. The former is contained in formal documents such as the constitution, act of parliament, international agreements and other legislation.
Written laws are usually referred to as codified law. Unwritten laws, on the other hand, are principles that are not established in a written document.
Rule of law: The concept of the rule of law is a fundamental principle that states that the law should govern a nation rather than arbitrary decisions. It is often used by politicians and lawyers as a way to define a good legal system.
The Rule of law has been a key principle in political tradition for millennia and continues to be important in modern understandings. It has been influenced by the ideas of philosophers such as Aristotle and is considered an essential element in any governing system.