Described as an art of justice, a science, or a set of rules that regulate behavior, law has a longstanding debate about its precise definition. Law is enforceable by social institutions, governmental institutions, and private individuals.
Common law
Generally speaking, common law is defined as a body of law derived from legal precedent. It is also known as case law, judge-made law, or Anglo-American law. The term “common law” originated in England, but is now used to refer to legal systems in several English-speaking countries, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
In addition, common law has been administered by common-law courts in England since the Middle Ages. Common law has also been applied in civil cases, where it was designed to compensate for torts, such as negligence.
Civil law
Basically, civil law is a system of law that deals with disputes between private parties and organizations. Typically, civil law covers conflicts between private individuals and organizations regarding property, monetary claims, contracts, and other issues.
Civil law is generally based on Roman law and the Roman jus civile (citizens’ law) in late imperial Rome. Its development was also influenced by the canon law of Europe, and merchant law.
Federalism
During the Progressive era, state and local governments outpaced their federal counterparts. However, the Great Depression and other crises were beyond the capacity of state and local governments to respond. These challenges created a demand for more national activism. The New Deal and the Progressive movement responded with a variety of innovative policies.
There are three concepts that underpin federalism: popular sovereignty, limited government and a decentralized system. Each of these concepts has its own special relationship to environmental law.
Property law
Various kinds of things are classified as property. These include real property, intellectual property, and personal property. It is important for anyone to understand how property law works so that they can determine how much their property is worth.
Property law is a legal system that deals with the ownership, transfer, and use of things. These things can be anything from a person’s house to a natural resource. The law also overlaps with tort law and contract law.
Company law
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, or just interested in the world of business, knowing more about company law can help you navigate the world of business. There are several aspects to the law, ranging from the legalities of formation to a directors’ duties.
A company is a legal entity that is separate from its director and is incorporated to carry out commercial activities. Unlike a natural person, the company is able to carry on business even after the death of its members.
Commercial law
Whether you’re looking to start a business, or you’ve been operating for years, understanding commercial law is essential. It’s a branch of law that focuses on the sale of goods, as well as the protection of consumer rights. This legal discipline has its own distinct rules.
Commercial law is primarily governed by the Uniform Commercial Code, a model set of laws. Every state has adopted some form of the UCC, though each state has the freedom to modify it to meet its needs.