Law is a body of rules, regulations and procedures that govern the conduct of individuals, groups and governments. It includes both public and private law, as well as social and ethical standards.

The definition of law differs among people, and it can range from a strict or idealistic understanding to one that is more general. In most countries, the government is in charge of creating laws. It is up to citizens to follow these laws or face punishment if they do not.

Generally speaking, there are two types of law: criminal and civil.

Criminal law deals with actions or omissions that are considered harmful to society and can result in a person being imprisoned, fined or both.

Civil law deals with disputes between individuals. It covers areas such as torts, contracts and property.

There are different legal systems in the world, and they may differ depending on their history, connections with other nations, or their adherence to international standards. Some jurisdictions have their own civil and criminal codes, while others use a system of common law.

In general, the rules of civil law are set out in statutes passed through legislative procedures and enforced by a government agency or executive branch. Similarly, court decisions are formally recognized as “law” and are often based on the “doctrine of precedent”. The doctrine, known as stare decisis (Latin for “to stand by a decision”), holds that judicial judgments must be followed even if they differ from other judgments in similar cases.

These principles are embodied in a number of documents, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Charter. They are derived from the highest norms of human rights and international law and represent a basic set of principles that must be adhered to in order for a nation to be called a lawful or legitimate state.

The principles that define the law include equality, fairness and justice, as well as the right to due process of law. These can be seen in the rights of individuals, as well as in the protections that are provided by governments, and are important for a democracy.

In most societies, the law is a powerful force that keeps the peace and maintains the status quo. It can also help preserve individual rights, protect minorities from majorities and promote social justice.

A law can be written and enacted by a government or by an independent organization such as a lawyer. It can also be created through an agreement between a group of people, such as a treaty or constitution.

While many legal systems are based on a religious philosophy or religion, some have been secularised and become legal systems in their own right. These include Islamic Sharia law, which is the primary legal system in Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The scholarly study of law provides a window into a wide variety of subjects, such as legal history, philosophy, economic analysis and sociology. It raises important issues about equality, fairness and justice, which have shaped modern social and political thought.