Law is a system of rules that governs the conduct of a community and enforces them through penalties. Many nations use laws derived from a combination of statutes, case law and convention. Some, like the United States and England, employ a common law system. Others, such as Japan and France, use a civil law system.
The law can be applied to specific areas of society such as family, employment, property and criminal law. It can also apply to the economy as a whole through banking and financial regulation, tax law and the law of commerce.
In a legal trial, the judge or jury determines the truth of a case by evaluating the evidence presented to it. The most important pieces of evidence are usually those that support the plaintiff’s claims or the defendant’s denials of them. Defendants are generally allowed to present counter-evidence and cross-examination of witnesses in order to demonstrate that the evidence supports their position.
The framers of the Constitution in the United States created a framework for government based on the principle that no one person should be given too much power. This concept is called the separation of powers and it makes sure that a single individual can’t become “a prince over the people”. Other principles include the right to a fair trial, freedom of expression, protection of minorities against majorities and social justice. In addition to preventing corruption and oppression, laws are intended to keep peace and maintain the status quo, promote economic change, ensure the safety of citizens and protect individuals’ rights.