Law is a system of rules that a society develops in order to deal with issues such as crime, business agreements and social relationships. The term is also used to refer to specific branches of the law, such as criminal or business laws.

Law pervades every aspect of human civilization, influencing governance, commerce and the individual rights of citizens in various ways. Whether it is a country’s constitution (written or tacit), its judicial system, its police force or its military forces, the law shapes history, culture and the development of nations.

Different aspects of the law are reflected in distinct branches of the field, with each branch addressing specific types of cases. Contract law regulates agreements to exchange goods and services, while property law defines people’s rights and duties toward tangible property such as houses or cars, or intangible property such as bank accounts or shares of stock. Labor law focuses on the tripartite industrial relationship between employee, employer and trade unions. Its implications include the right to strike and the minimum wage. Administrative law, on the other hand, deals with the ways in which governmental agencies such as the IRS or the FDA operate.

The way the law is interpreted is shaped by social and political factors. For example, a nation that has an authoritarian government might keep the peace and maintain the status quo, but it may oppress minorities or its political opponents, and it might fail to promote social justice.