Law is a set of rules that a society or government develops in order to regulate relationships, deal with crime, and administer justice. It is enforceable through the use of penalties for violations. A society that has established law is generally considered to be civilized. Law also refers to the profession of advising people about legal matters or representing them in court and is a common career choice for many students after high school.

The definition of law varies between nations and even within societies. Some laws are considered to be morally based, while others are considered to be utilitarian or pragmatic. For example, some people argue that the idea of a free press is morally important, while others consider it to be an economic necessity. Similarly, some people believe that it is important for a country to have a well-functioning military in order to protect its citizens, while others view this as a threat to liberty and the role of the state.

In a democracy, the law is made by elected officials. This gives the citizens the opportunity to change the law through political means, or to hold their elected officials accountable for decisions they make that are contrary to the will of the people. In countries that do not have democratic forms of government, the law is typically imposed by the military or the police force.

Besides regulating social interactions, the law can also regulate business agreements and govern the environment. Labor laws, for example, establish minimum wages and standards for working conditions. Environmental laws, on the other hand, address issues such as air and water pollution. Other specialized areas of law include intellectual property (specifically patents and copyrights) and immigration.

Some philosophers have argued that the most basic understanding of law is simply power backed by threats. However, this interpretation is often criticized, because it leaves citizens at the mercy of whatever sovereign decides to create and enforce the laws. For example, tyrannical rulers like the Nazis and Saddam Hussein were able to execute six million Jews and torture minorities in their respective countries, all under supposedly “lawful” authority.

The United States, for example, employs a law system that relies on the precedent of judicial decisions instead of written statutes. These judicial rulings are compiled and published in the United States Code. Many lawsuits hinge on the meaning of a federal regulation, and judges’ interpretations of such regulations are given precedence over their original wording under the doctrine of stare decisis. In some cases, a judge’s decision can become the law of the land by being cited in subsequent lawsuits. In addition, the executive branch of the U.S. government can enact laws through the creation of regulations, which are then published in the Federal Register and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations. In addition, a variety of other types of laws are created by state governments and private organizations.