The law is the system of rules made and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate behaviour. Its precise definition is a matter of longstanding debate.
Laws can be imposed by the state through statutes (written laws), decrees or regulations, or created by judges through case law and precedent, normally in common law jurisdictions. They can also be set by private individuals through legal contracts and agreements. Law is a complex subject and its study has become increasingly popular with young people. Careers relating to law include being a lawyer or judge.
A key feature of law is that it is impossible to empirically verify its contents. Whether it should comprise precepts of such-and-such import is an entirely subjective decision.
The study of law is divided into three broad categories, although the subjects intertwine and overlap. Civil law is concerned with citizens’ rights and responsibilities against other people, whereas criminal law is concerned with citizens’ rights against the state.
Contract law is about the rules that govern agreements to exchange goods or services, from a contract for an airline ticket to a business deal involving shares and bonds. Property law is the study of people’s rights and duties toward tangible goods such as real property (land) and personal property (movable things like cars and computers). It also covers intellectual property, trusts and commercial laws.
The rules governing how courts operate are known as law and procedure. These cover the process by which cases are heard and decided, including a citizen’s right to a fair trial. Other aspects of law that are important include evidence law, which is the discipline that decides what materials a court can consider for a case. Finally, there is competition law and consumer law.