The Basics of Law

Law

Law is the body of rules that a society, government, or other organization recognizes as regulating its members’ actions. Its purpose is to prevent crime, provide social order, and enforce business agreements.

Law Spreads Far Beyond the Core subjects

The term “law” covers a variety of disciplines, but in general, it refers to a system of laws that governs a specific area or group of people. Examples include criminal, civil, and corporate law.

Legal systems can differ widely across cultures and countries, but all have certain common characteristics. In general, they include a legislative branch and an executive branch; courts that hear and decide cases; and a body of precedent (laws that have been decided in the past).

Justice is a fundamental concept in law. It involves ensuring that both the accused and the victim are treated impartially, fairly, properly, and reasonably.

There are various theories as to how justice is achieved. Some suggest that it is a moral obligation of society to protect its citizens from harm. Others say it is a matter of economics or philosophy.

A third school of thought holds that it is a means of coercing people into conformity with a set of values. This is often referred to as the natural law theory.

Alternatively, the idea that law is a tool of social control is sometimes called the sociological theory of law. This view was popularized by Max Weber in 1917.

Biblical Law is a Form of Law that Restrains Evildoers

The Bible contains a number of laws that are designed to shape the character of people and mold them into the image of Yahweh, or God. These laws are found in the books of the Torah, Deuteronomy, Ezekiel, and Daniel.

It also includes a number of other supplemental texts, such as the Decalogue and the Mosaic Law. The latter is especially important for Christians.

In addition, the Bible gives us several codes that help explain certain aspects of the Christian life and are part of our salvation process. For example, it states that women must be in subjection “as the Law says” (1 Cor 14:34 ), and it condemns partiality, adultery, murder, slander, and lying as against the Law ( Rom 13:9 ; Gal 3:24 ).

These codes are meant to lead people to Jesus Christ. Although no one keeps all of them perfectly, the Bible points to the Gospel as the only way to eternal salvation.

Property is another major area of law, involving real and personal property. It includes land, movable objects, intangible rights and company shares.

The law deals with all aspects of ownership, possession, and transfer of property. It covers things such as mortgages, rental agreements, licences, covenants, easements, and the statutory systems for land registration.

Other areas of law involve financial matters, including taxation and banking regulation. In particular, financial law focuses on the minimum amounts of capital banks must hold and the rules for investment. It also covers such issues as securities, insurance, and bankruptcy.