Law is a system of rules created and enforced by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior, ensure justice, and maintain order within a society.
A summary of the world's major legal systems, including common law, civil law, customary law, religious law, and hybrid systems.
Common law is a legal system characterized by judge-made law, where past judicial decisions (precedents) are binding on future cases, ensuring consistency and predictability in the law.
Civil law is a legal system originating in continental Europe, characterized by comprehensive legal codes and statutes that govern private law relationships.
A summary of Customary Law, its role in legal systems, and its key characteristics.
Religious law, also known as canon law or divine law, is a legal system based on the teachings, scriptures, and traditions of a particular religion. It governs the moral, spiritual, and social conduct of its adherents and is used to resolve disputes within religious communities.
A legal system that combines elements of both civil law and common law, as well as other legal traditions, to address the diverse needs of a society.
A comparison of the world's major legal systems, including civil law, common law, religious law, and customary law.
A summary of the primary sources of law, including constitutions, statutory law, case law, regulations, and international agreements.
A constitution is a fundamental legal document that establishes the framework of government, defines the distribution of powers, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
Statutory law is the body of written laws enacted by legislative bodies, distinct from common law and regulatory law.
In common law systems, judicial decisions from higher courts create binding precedents that lower courts must follow, ensuring consistency and predictability in the application of law.
Regulations are rules made by administrative agencies, which have the force of law and are a primary source of law in administrative law.
International agreements are treaties, conventions, and accords between countries that establish binding legal obligations across borders.
Legal reasoning is the process by which judges, lawyers, and legal scholars apply laws, precedents, and principles to analyze and resolve legal issues.
Interpreting statutes is the process by which courts determine the meaning and application of legislative provisions, ensuring that laws are understood and applied correctly in various contexts.
The Literal Rule is a principle of statutory interpretation that mandates judges to apply the exact, ordinary meaning of the words used in legislation, ensuring that statutes are enforced as written, without inferring additional meanings.
The golden rule is a method of statutory interpretation allowing judges to modify the meaning of words to avoid absurd results.
A judicial approach to statutory interpretation focusing on the law's purpose and the 'mischief' it aims to remedy.
A method of statutory interpretation where judges seek to understand and apply the law based on the legislature's intended purpose.
A summary of judicial reasoning, its importance in law, and key concepts such as precedents, analogy, and statutory interpretation.
An overview of the main legal reasoning techniques used by judges and lawyers to interpret and apply the law.
Summary of the core principles of judicial reasoning, including the roles of precedent, interpretation, and logic in judicial decision-making.
Stare decisis is the legal principle that courts should follow precedent to ensure consistency and stability in judicial decisions.
A summary of the key differences between binding and persuasive precedent in judicial reasoning.
A comparison between judicial activism and judicial restraint, two contrasting philosophies of judicial decision-making.
A summary of major legal doctrines, their meanings, and their importance in the justice system.
A principle that all individuals and institutions are subject to and accountable under the law, ensuring fairness, justice, and equality in legal systems.
Equity is a branch of law that addresses fairness and justice, supplementing and sometimes overriding common law to provide remedies such as injunctions, specific performance, and trusts.
Natural law is a philosophical theory that posits the existence of inherent laws discoverable by reason, which govern human behavior and form the basis for legitimate legal systems.
Legal Positivism is a school of thought in jurisprudence that emphasizes the conventional nature of law, asserting that law is a set of rules enacted by legitimate authorities, separate from morality.
Due process is a constitutional guarantee that legal proceedings will be fair and that individuals will receive notice and an opportunity to be heard before the government can deprive them of life, liberty, or property.
A summary of the burden of proof, its significance in legal proceedings, and how it is applied across different types of cases.
A foundational legal doctrine that ensures every person accused of a crime is considered innocent until proven guilty.
An overview of the major types of law, including public law, private law, procedural law, international law, and specialized areas.
Public law is the branch of law that governs the relationship between individuals and the state, including constitutional, administrative, and criminal law.
A branch of law that defines crimes, establishes punishments, and regulates the prosecution and defense of individuals accused of committing crimes.
Constitutional law is the body of law that defines the relationship between different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary, and the basic rights of citizens.
A branch of public law that governs the activities of administrative agencies of government, ensuring lawful, reasonable, and fair administrative actions.
Private law is the branch of law that deals with legal relationships and disputes between private individuals or entities, including areas such as contracts, property, family, employment, and succession.
Contract law is the body of law that governs legally binding agreements between parties, detailing the creation, execution, and enforcement of contracts.
Tort law is a branch of civil law that addresses wrongful acts (torts) committed by one party against another, leading to civil legal liability and compensation for damages.
Property law is the area of law that governs the rights and interests people have in tangible and intangible property, including ownership, use, transfer, and disputes.
Family law is a legal practice area that deals with matters related to family relationships, including marriage, divorce, child custody, adoption, and domestic partnerships.
Employment law is the body of statutes, regulations, and agreements that govern the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees in the workplace.
Succession law, also known as inheritance law, governs the distribution of a person's assets and liabilities after their death, ensuring that estates are settled according to the decedent's wishes or, if no will exists, by statutory rules of intestacy.
Procedural law is the set of rules that govern the process and procedures by which legal cases are adjudicated, ensuring the orderly and fair administration of justice in courts.
Civil procedure is the body of law that sets out the rules and standards courts follow when adjudicating civil lawsuits, ensuring fairness and efficiency in legal proceedings.
Criminal procedure is the legal process that ensures fair treatment for individuals accused of crimes, outlining each step from investigation to trial and appeal.
International law is the set of rules, agreements, and treaties that are binding between countries, governing their relationships and ensuring cooperation on a global scale.
Public international law is the body of legal rules, agreements, and treaties that govern the relationships between sovereign states and other international actors.
Private International Law, also known as Conflict of Laws, addresses legal disputes involving foreign elements, determining which jurisdiction's law applies and ensuring cross-border justice.
Specialized areas of law are distinct fields that address specific legal subjects, industries, or issues, requiring expert knowledge and skills.
A summary of Corporate and Commercial Law, its significance, primary focus, and typical legal issues it addresses.
Environmental law is a body of legal statutes, regulations, and treaties designed to protect the environment, regulate the impact of human activities, and promote sustainable development.
A summary of Intellectual Property Law, its main types, and its importance in protecting creations of the mind.
Tax law encompasses the rules, policies, and statutes that govern the taxation process, including the collection, enforcement, and regulation of taxes at both the individual and corporate levels.
A summary of immigration law, its purpose, key concepts, and its impact on individuals and society.
A1: Legal institutions are the bodies and systems responsible for creating, implementing, and interpreting laws within a society.
A summary of the legislative branch, its main functions, and its importance as a law-making body in government.
A summary of the legislative process by which laws are made, including key stages and the roles of different bodies.
A summary of the concept of political representation in legislative bodies, including its types, importance, and challenges.
A jurisdiction is the legal authority a court or government body has to hear cases, make laws, and enforce decisions within a specific geographic area or over certain types of legal matters.
A summary of the executive branch, its main functions, and its importance as a legal institution in government.
A summary of the concept of administration within the executive branch, including its functions, importance, and key components.
Law enforcement refers to the agencies and officers responsible for maintaining public order, preventing and investigating crimes, and ensuring compliance with laws.
An executive order is a directive issued by the head of the executive branch—such as the president—that manages operations of the government and has the force of law.
The judicial branch is the part of a government responsible for interpreting laws, adjudicating legal disputes, and ensuring justice is administered fairly through courts and judges.
A courts and tribunals are both judicial bodies that resolve disputes, but courts are formal judicial institutions with broad jurisdiction,
The organized structure of courts (hierarchy) and the authority each court possesses to hear specific types of cases (jurisdiction).
A summary of the key differences between civil and criminal courts, including their purposes, procedures, and outcomes.
Interpretation and adjudication are central functions of the judicial branch, involving the explanation of legal texts and the resolution of disputes through judicial decisions.
The concepts of judicial independence and impartiality, their importance in the legal system, and how they are maintained.
The legal profession encompasses the roles, responsibilities, and ethical standards of individuals who practice law, including lawyers, judges, and paralegals.
A summary of the roles and responsibilities of lawyers, judges, and paralegals in the legal system.
The principles and rules governing the professional behavior of lawyers, ensuring integrity, fairness, and responsibility in the legal profession.
An overview of law schools and their role in legal education, along with the process of bar admission that qualifies individuals to practice law.
An overview of the essential steps, qualifications, and considerations involved in beginning a professional journey in the legal field.
A summary of the law, its importance, main types, and impact on society.