Law is the study of the rules that govern governmental and social institutions. It has been described as both an art and a science. For example, the Clean Air Act regulates the emission of air pollutants from stationary and mobile sources in all 50 states. Most OECD countries have laws regulating water, energy, gas, and telecomms industries.
Legal issues arise in many areas of life, from family issues to workplace issues to being accused of a crime. Some of the most common legal issues include debt and money, immigration, consumer rights, and housing problems. The government has numerous websites that can help individuals learn about their rights and understand how to resolve these issues. They can also provide useful information about government laws, criminal justice, and consumer issues.
Different countries have different legal systems and different branches of law. Common law, for example, recognizes decisions of the executive branch and courts as “law.” It also includes the doctrine of precedent, which means that decisions of the higher courts bind lower courts and decisions of the same court. Civil law, on the other hand, includes both legislative statutes and judicial decisions. Typically, civil law requires fewer detailed judicial decisions and judges are writing only to decide one particular case.
The principles of rule of law also include the need for a government to adhere to certain norms. This includes accepting and respecting legal determinations of rights and freedoms. Furthermore, the rule of law requires that laws apply equally to everyone. Therefore, no one should be above the law and everyone should be protected by it.