Law is the discipline and profession related to practices, sets of rules, and customs that are recognized as binding by a community and enforced by a controlling authority such as a governing body. Law shapes politics, economics, history and society in many ways and serves as a mediator between people. Its many fields and variations are a rich source of academic study, as well as cultural and historical interest.
In the modern sense, the concept of law combines a variety of different ideas about morality and control. John Austin defined the law as “commands, backed by threats of sanction from a sovereign, to whom men have a habit of obedience.” Bentham’s utilitarian theory dominated the thinking on law until the 20th century. Other writers argued for a natural law perspective. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, for example, posited that laws of nature are unchanging and reflect universal principles such as justice, order and honesty.
Regardless of the type of law, most legal systems include a constitutional system that establishes how the government is structured and defines its powers and relationships. Other types of laws can include administrative law, criminal law and civil law. Criminal law governs offenses against a state, while civil law encompasses disputes between individuals, such as contracts and torts. Other types of law can include property law, trust law and international law. The study of law can also involve the analysis of individual and collective rights, such as privacy laws or human rights.