Law is a complex term that refers to the body of strong rules and customs that must be obeyed in order for society to function. These rules are enforced by a central authority and serve to control the actions of people in a particular place. Law is a broad field, covering everything from contracts to family law to criminal law.
In general, laws are created by a central authority, normally a government. They are then interpreted by humans, usually judges or attorneys. These interpretations are called jurisprudence, and they are subject to debate. One big debate is over whether or not judges should be allowed to express their own opinions about laws they must interpret, as well as their sense of what is right and wrong.
The modern practice of law is governed by professional standards and procedures set out in legislation. It is an honourable career and most lawyers will hold a degree from a university (usually with a specialisation in the area of law they practice in).
In the United States, public laws are enacted by Congress and codified in the United States Code. The federal government also creates regulations, which have the force of law in some cases. A judge’s decision in a case also has legal weight, as long as it is consistent with past decisions, a principle known as stare decisis. Other laws are created by state governments, private organisations or other institutions. Banking law, insurance law, corporate law, property law and tax law are examples of this.