5. Law
Law serves as a pivotal framework governing behavior within society, promoting order, justice, and protection of rights. It encompasses a range of sources including legislation, judicial decisions, customary law, international law, and constitutional law that collectively shape legal structures. The chapter explores various types of law such as civil, criminal, administrative, constitutional, family, and labor law, illustrating their roles and interconnections within a democratic society. Ultimately, law functions as a tool for social change, influencing justice, rights, and governance.
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What we have learnt
- Law is a system of rules that regulates behaviors to maintain order and protect rights.
- Different sources of law include legislation, judicial decisions, customary laws, international law, and constitutional law.
- The types of law such as civil, criminal, administrative, constitutional, family, and labor law address diverse legal issues and facilitate fair conflict resolution.
Key Concepts
- -- Rule of Law
- The principle that law should govern a nation, as opposed to being governed by arbitrary decisions of individual government officials.
- -- Judicial Independence
- The concept that the judiciary should remain independent from other branches of government, ensuring unbiased legal interpretations and decisions.
- -- Stare Decisis
- The legal principle of determining points in litigation according to precedents set by previous cases.
- -- Civil Law
- The body of law dealing with the rights of private individuals or organizations, as opposed to criminal law which deals with offenses against the state.
- -- Constitutional Law
- The field of law that deals with the interpretation and application of the constitution, addressing the structure of government and the rights of citizens.
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