Law is a social system of rules that governs the actions of people or organizations. Often it includes rules about property, contracts, business transactions, crimes, or public morals. Legal systems vary from country to country, or even within a single country. But they do share some similar characteristics based on historically accepted justice ideals. They may be classified as “common law” or “civil law” systems. Some also employ religious or scripture-based laws.
Law involves a complex interaction of human and natural factors. For example, the law of supply and demand affects the price and availability of goods, while the law of gravity affects the motion of objects. Law is also the product of human choice. People decide what to do and how to act based on their experiences, beliefs, and expectations. The more experienced someone is, the more likely they are to make good choices.
A good legal system allows people of all ages and backgrounds to understand and participate in the legal process. It provides checks and balances on the power of the government, so that it cannot abuse its authority. And it provides for peaceful and orderly transfer of power, preserving core human, procedural, and property rights.
Ideally, the law is transparent, fair, and impartial. This requires measures to ensure supremacy of the law, equality before the law, accountability to the law, participation in decision-making, separation of powers, transparency of legislative activities, and legal certainty and avoidance of arbitrariness.