A law is a set of rules decided by a particular place or authority meant to keep people safe and secure. It also sets out a framework for social relationships and disputes. Laws are usually created by government, but can also be created by communities and organisations. Law shapes politics, economics and history in many different ways. It is a fundamental part of what it means to be a society.

The four principal purposes of a legal system are: establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving conflict and protecting liberties and rights. Governments can be effective or not at serving these functions; dictatorships, for instance, may keep the peace but are often oppressive to minorities and a source of social injustice. Democracy, on the other hand, can be a source of political instability and social disruption.

A legal system usually has a written constitution that defines the rights of citizens, and how courts decide cases. The law can be interpreted in many different ways, depending on the culture of the country and its religious beliefs. For example, in Britain, there is a tradition of “common law” that combines secular and religious traditions. In other countries, there are laws that are based on Islamic or Hindu religions. Moreover, legal systems vary considerably between nations, with differences in their constitutions, courts and laws. Legal systems are complicated by the fact that a judge’s decision is binding only within a given jurisdiction, whilst in other jurisdictions it has no authority at all.