Law is the system of rules that a particular community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members. Its constituents include the written laws of a country or region, customary law, and precedent as well as the practices and procedures of its courts. It is also the set of rules that judges and other officials follow in judging cases. The practice of law involves advising clients, arguing legal disputes before courts and tribunals, and representing people in court to defend their rights.
It is difficult to give a definitive definition of law, since the nature of the law varies from country to country. However, most systems of law share four main purposes: establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes and protecting liberties and rights. In some countries, the power to make and enforce law is vested in a specific group or individual, usually referred to as a nation-state. The extent of this power varies from place to place, and aspirations for democratic government or greater protections are a recurring theme in politics.
The law is often viewed as having moral underpinnings, and many philosophical movements have shaped the debate on the subject. The utilitarian argument put forward by Bentham has become the dominant view of the law in most Western societies. Other influential theories include the natural law of Montaigne, the natural rights of Locke and Rousseau, and the divine right of kings put forth by Aquinas.
The study of the law encompasses a broad range of fields, from history and philosophy to sociology and economics. Oxford Reference offers a comprehensive collection of more than 34,000 concise definitions and in-depth, specialist encyclopedic entries on this vast and diverse field. Our articles cover all aspects of the law, from criminal and family law to international and human rights legislation, and are expertly written by trusted experts. We also offer extensive coverage of key debates in legal theory and the relationship between the law and society. Our law titles are designed for students and professionals at every level, from the undergraduate student to the judge on the bench. In addition, our comprehensive series of guides to the law in specific countries and regions covers both the law as it is applied on a local basis and the major international treaties and agreements that govern the law on a global scale.
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