Law is the system of rules that a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members. The study of law involves the scholarly investigation and analysis of these laws, including their history, evolution, and impact. Laws can be based on natural, moral, or religious values, and they may be influenced by social or economic concerns. They are often used to protect people from each other and to maintain social order. Laws are also used to provide justice, and in this role they shape politics, history, economics, and society.
An article is a clause or paragraph in a legal document. A single article can regulate many aspects of a particular case or issue such as the terms of contracts, the rights and duties of parties, the procedures to follow in court, the legal definitions for concepts, and how to determine whether an act is criminal. Articles can be found in statutes, codes, contracts, and other legal documents. An appeal is a request to overturn the decision of a lower court or tribunal. A person who is accused of a crime in the United States can file an appeal after being arraigned, which is the procedure in which they are told the charges against them and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
The rule of law is a principle that states that government officials should obey the law and not abuse their positions to serve their own interests or to benefit private corporations or individuals. This includes not taking bribes, not using their offices to gain personal advantage, and not engaging in partisan politics. It also means that government agencies should make their data transparently available to citizens and that those who enforce the law should be competent, ethical, and representative of their communities.
The purposes of law are many and varied, but most nations have laws designed to keep the peace, maintain the status quo, preserve individual rights, promote social justice, and allow for reasonable social change. Some countries have authoritarian governments that use the law to control their population, while others may oppress minorities or limit freedom of expression. The study of law focuses on the various ways that these purposes are accomplished by law, and how laws can be changed to meet new social needs. The study of law also explores the relationships between different types of laws, such as civil and common law. Different legal systems have evolved throughout history, with Western law dominating most of the modern world.