Law is the set of rules governing human behavior, enacted and enforced by governmental institutions to establish standards and maintain order. Law permeates every aspect of society, influencing relationships, governance, commerce and the protection of individual rights. Its diverse fields and evolving nature underscore its importance in shaping civilization. Law can be imposed by group legislature, resulting in statutes; by the executive, through decrees and regulations; or by judges through precedent, known as common law or civil law. Private individuals may also create legally binding contracts and legal disputes can be resolved through arbitration agreements.
The origin and development of law varies greatly between nation-states, with the law in some countries explicitly based on religious precepts, as in Jewish halakha or Islamic Sharia. In most cases, however, religious law is simply a starting point for further elaboration and application by judicial decision-making processes such as interpretation, Qiyas (reasoning by analogy), Ijma (consensus) and case law.
Law is a complex subject, with its history and evolution being the product of various political and social factors. A country’s constitution, written or tacit, sets out its basic principles. A political regime’s ability to function — and retain power in the face of opposition or popular revolt — depends on its legal system.
In general, laws are shaped by a society’s values and traditions, with some laws rooted in the natural world. A philosopher such as Jeremy Bentham might argue that the law reflects a moral code that humans are bound to follow. Others might suggest that the law is a collection of commandments, backed by threat of punishment, from a sovereign or supreme authority to whom people have a habit of obedience.
The many facets of law include commercial transactions; competition and antitrust law, which seek to prevent businesses from exercising market power by fixing prices or engaging in other unfair business practices; labour law, governing the relationship between employer and employee; and the law of evidence, which dictates which materials are admissible in courts for the purpose of a trial or hearing. The Oxford Dictionary of Law covers the full range of topics within this broad field, providing concise definitions and in-depth, specialist encyclopedic entries authored by trusted experts. Its breadth and depth make it an essential resource for students, researchers, lawyers, librarians and general readers. It also includes the latest legal changes and developments, as well as commentaries and criticism of these changes.