Law is a system of rules and regulations enforceable by social institutions. It shapes history, politics, economics, and society. Common legal issues include housing, money, immigration, and workplace rights.
Law is also the mediator of relations between people. It has been described as the “art of justice.”
Laws are made by the executive branch of the government, and are enacted by decrees, legislation, and regulations. They are enforceable by the courts, and the decisions of the courts are called precedents. The decisions of higher courts often bind the lower courts.
Legal issues can arise from sudden events, planned events, and problems in the workplace. They can also be caused by family matters. In most countries, the practice of law is supervised by an independent regulating body.
Legal issues may be heard in state or federal courts, depending on where the case is filed. There are two types of legal systems: civil law and common law. Both are used in the United States.
The common law legal system was developed in England, and is now the basis of most American law. It acknowledges the decisions of the courts as law, and is often shorter than the more detailed judicial decisions of the civil law legal systems.
The common law system also formally recognizes decisions made by the executive branch. These decisions are considered to be “law.”
Common law is often called the “law of the land” in the United States. It traces back to Roman decrees against price fixing and English restraint of trade doctrines.