Law is the system of rules that regulates conduct and enforces them through penalties. In modern times laws are usually drafted and voted on by a legislature (like a parliament or congress), which is elected by a nation’s citizens. People who study or practice law, called legal professionals, advise and represent people about the law, give decisions and punish those who break the law.
People and companies use law in many ways, from enforcing contracts to avoiding fines for traffic violations. The complexities of these uses suggest that law has multiple functions. For example, law may be used to encourage competition, to keep the peace and maintain the status quo, to protect the rights of minorities against majorities, or to allow for peaceful change to a society.
It’s difficult to define exactly what law is, since different people have very different views about it. However, one of the main ideas about law is that it is a set of social or governmental institutions created to control behavior. Another idea is that it is a system of justice based on concepts of natural justice or the will of a deity.
Some people think that a law must be logical or fair in order to be legitimate. Others argue that a law must be practical and work for the majority of the population, while others argue that it is up to each individual whether or not a particular law makes sense.