The discipline of Law covers a wide range of legal issues. It has many facets and is an important source of scholarly inquiry in fields such as law history, philosophy, sociology, economic analysis and the study of religion. It also raises fundamental questions about the role of government and the nature of justice.
Law in its broadest sense covers any system of rules governing human conduct. It can be a collection of statutes and regulations adopted through the legislative process. It can also be a body of custom and policies accepted by the people, as in traditional cultures or religious communities. In modern societies, this includes a variety of codes that define rights and responsibilities such as the French Code civil or the German BGB. It can also include a code of ethics for the profession of law or a set of principles sanctioned by conscience, concepts of natural justice and the will of a deity.
In addition, it can include a series of legal proceedings such as a trial or a lawsuit. It can also refer to a transcript (a written word-for-word record of what was said in a court proceeding) or a procedure such as arraignment, in which an accused person is informed of the charges against him or her and asked to enter a plea.
Other laws regulate the use of certain resources such as water, electricity or oil; and financial regulation and banking laws are about best practices in investment. International law deals with treaties and issues involving foreign nations and the world in general. It can involve trade agreements, space law and a whole range of other subjects.