Law is a system of rules a government or other authority develops and enforces in order to deal with issues such as crime, property disputes and social relationships. It may be based on religious precepts such as the Jewish Halakha or Islamic Sharia, or it may be developed through human elaboration such as interpretation, Qiyas (reasoning by analogy), Ijma (consensus) and precedent, especially in common law jurisdictions. In general, laws must be publicly promulgated and enforced fairly, with adherence to international human rights standards.
The development of the legal system is complex and diverse, and it is not always clear why a given law or ruling was made the way that it was. Some of the most important functions of the law are establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes and protecting liberties and rights. The laws are enforced by a controlling authority, often through penalties.
The law has developed through many centuries of experience, felt necessities and popular moral and political theories. The influence of these factors can be seen in the plethora of legal decisions that are based on rationales, policies and intuitions rather than the clear-cut rules formulated in statutes.
Laws are also developed through the process of trial and error. For example, tort law covers the liability of businesses and individuals for damage to others, whereas criminal law provides punishments for violations of social norms, such as obscene or threatening telephone calls. The law has also developed through social movements, such as women’s rights or civil rights.