The Importance of Law
Law is a set of rules enforced by governmental institutions to govern behavior and ensure justice. It is a fundamental part of the social contract and a crucial element of the human condition.
In modern societies, law exists primarily to serve four purposes: establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes, and protecting liberties and rights. The law is used as a means to achieve these goals through the force of state power, including the military, police, and bureaucracy.
The law reflects society’s normative values, and societal expectations about how people should behave (for example, it is a crime to cause physical harm). The law also ensures some semblance of social order by prohibiting certain behaviours (such as inciting others to revolt against the government) and imposing penalties on violators.
In addition, the law serves as a guide for citizens by setting out rights and duties in clearly expressed terms. It is also used to regulate businesses that provide public services and utilities, such as water, energy, and telecoms.
Legal systems are structured and hierarchical, allowing judges to use formal sources of law—such as statutes or legislation, and judicial precedent—to determine the correct interpretation of a specific case. Informal or persuasive sources are also used, and may include foreign judgments, principles of morality, equity, or professional opinions.