Law

:This article is about law in society. For other possible meanings, see law (disambiguation).

Introduction

Law is the formal regime that orders human activities and relations through systematic application of the force of a governing body and the society it rules over.

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Laws may require or proscribe given actions, as well as empower citizens to engage in certain activities, such as entering into contracts and drafting wills. Laws may also simply mandate what procedures are to be followed in a given context; for example, the U.S. Constitution mandates how Congress, along with the President, may create laws. A more specific example might be the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which, along with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a regulatory body, mandates how public companies must go about making periodic disclosures to investors.

Related Topics:
Contracts - Will

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In most countries only professionals trained in the law can effectively understand and explain legal principles, draft relevant documents, and guide parties through legal disputes, whether with another private party (civil law) or with the government (often involving criminal law).

Related Topics:
Civil law - Criminal law

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