Law provides a special framework and rules to help individuals settle disputes. This system helps ensure that all parties have a chance to bring their case to an impartial tactic, such as a judge or jury. The laws also protect the rights of individuals who face actions that threaten their liberty or property. The law also provides a way for the public to appeal decisions made by judges or juries in their cases. This is known as the judicial review process.
The main function of law is to keep society in order and ensure justice. This is accomplished by enforcing the rules that the people have agreed to follow and punishing those who break them. It is important that law is fair and impartial, which is why the constitution in many nations has a guarantee of a fair trial.
From a philosophical perspective, the nature of law is complex. Law is not like empirical science (such as the laws of gravity) or even social science (such as the law of supply and demand). Instead, it consists mainly of normative statements about how people ought to behave, which are dictated by social, moral, economic or political reasons.
Various sources of law are used in different countries, including statutes, common law and custom. Some countries use religion to provide the basis of their legal systems. Examples include Jewish halakha and Islamic Sharia, both of which incorporate religious precepts into their law. Other sources of law are financial regulation and taxation, which set minimum standards and provide incentives to companies.