Law is the set of rules that are created and enforced by social or governmental institutions to regulate behaviour, with the aim of achieving various goals such as establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes and protecting liberties and rights. It is often seen as a system of justice, but it also has the power to restrict behaviour (see censorship and crime).
A major distinction is between civil law systems where legislative statutes and codes are recognised as authoritative, and common law systems which rely on judge-made precedent. These systems differ from each other but are also dependent on the societal context in which they are used.
Many of the principles that underpin law have universal application, and include the supremacy of the law over individual or group opinion, equality before the law, accountability to the law, independence of the judiciary, transparency in decision-making and public participation in the administration of justice. A more specific goal is the ‘rule of law’ which encompasses a more integrated set of standards that includes accountability, legal certainty, separation of powers, and participation in decision-making and law-making, as well as safeguarding human rights and ensuring adherence to international humanitarian law.
A further aspect of law is the area of regulation, which deals with the control of regulated industries such as water, electricity and gas. It is usually undertaken by a public body, but private organisations may take on some aspects of the law too.