The law is the system of rules a society makes and enforces to govern conduct. It consists of rules prescribed by superiors that inferiors are bound to obey. It also includes rules imposed by social institutions, such as churches and schools, to regulate behavior and the organization of society and business. The law is a system of rules that ensures peace and order in societies, protects individuals’ rights, keeps business running smoothly, resolves conflicts, and provides justice to the people.

The Rule of Law is the notion that laws must operate as relatively stable sets of norms available to all members of a society in a form that is easily accessible and intelligible. This requires that laws be published well in advance of their application, that they not be secret, and that they be easily applied by a competent profession.

Many different views of law have been developed over time. Some are theoretical and others are more practical. Some incorporate principles such as the hesitancy to write evil into the law, the need for the public to understand and participate in the process of making and applying laws, or that laws should be based on morality.

Whether these theories are practical or not, it is clear that laws are very important in a modern society. Even in societies that seem to be well governed, conflicts and disagreements arise. Conflicts may be over property, the right to freedom of speech, or how to deal with a serious illness. The law provides a way to settle such disputes without violence or bloodshed.