Law is the set of rules that a society or government makes and enforces to govern behavior. Laws can be written or unwritten, but they always have some level of authority behind them. Some of the functions of law include establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes, and protecting liberties and rights.

The precise definition of law varies greatly from place to place. A common feature, however, is that law aims to establish order and protect people from abuse by others or by the government itself. It also seeks to ensure property, contract, and procedural rights. In addition, the rule of law requires that the government as well as private actors are accountable under the law and that laws are clear and publicized.

In the United States, a bill is a proposal to make a law passed by Congress. Once a bill has passed both houses of Congress and been signed by the President, it becomes a law. A law is a public law because it applies to everyone in a jurisdiction. For example, if a person breaks the law against stealing, that person can be fined or put in jail.

A law can be either written or unwritten, but it is always a product of human effort and is often subject to debate and change. A written law may be a constitution, a statute, or a treaty. A written constitution sets the fundamental principles of a nation’s governance, while a statute is a piece of legislation passed by the Congress and signed by the President. A treaty is an agreement between nations that has the force of international law.

An unwritten law may be a tradition or custom that is not codified in any document. These traditions vary from culture to culture, but they generally have some level of authority. A tradition that is widely accepted in a country may be considered to be the law. For example, the custom in many countries is that a woman should not work outside the home.

Legal systems differ greatly from one country to the next, but there are four universal principles that define the law: