The law is a set of rules that a society or government develops and enforces in order to deal with crime, business agreements and social relationships. It also governs property, finance and international relations. The term can refer to a specific branch of the law, such as criminal or business law, or the wider field of law which covers the professions that advise people about the legal system and represent them in court.
Oxford Reference Law provides expert-level coverage of the major aspects of the law across all its areas. Featuring authoritative definitions and in-depth specialist encyclopedic entries, the series covers key terms and concepts, as well as contemporary debates in law and theory. It is designed for researchers at every level.
A nation’s law is based on its political landscape, which can differ greatly from one place to the next. Nonetheless, all countries need laws that help them achieve their principal functions of setting standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes and protecting liberties and rights.
The law is usually written by politicians in a legislature, such as a parliament or congress. It is also possible for laws to be set by groups of people, such as a royal commission or a jury. Some governments use a constitutional monarchy, while others are republics with a president or prime minister. The United States, for example, has a bicameral legislature, with the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. The law can also be set by international organizations, such as the United Nations.