Law

When any of us hears the word law, images come to mind of law enforcement officers bringing in the bad guy. Other thoughts may turn to a court room with litigants and their lawyers battling in front of a judge to win their case. Law enforcement agencies and courts are part of the process of a government working with its citizens to keep the law. Government enforces the law and when a citizen has a problem, they work through the courts to seek justice or fair compensation for wrongs done to them.

What is Law?

The Oxford University Press Dictionary defines law as: " 1 a rule or system of rules recognized by a country or community as regulating the actions of its members and enforced by the imposition of penalties." In plain English, law is a set of rules we live by whether they are religious laws or governmental.

The legal profession studies law and courts interpret and issue judgments based upon the rule of law. Law enforcement agencies from the local community on up to the state and federal levels enforce the law for the protection and benefit of citizens.

Benefits of Law

There are a multitude of benefits to having law and order. Civilization could not exist without rules for citizens. Law brings order and a modicum of safety by keeping lawless actions like murder and violence to a minimum. It also keeps government officials accountable. Without the rule of law, society would degenerate to anarchy.

Law defines a code of rules that everyone must abide by. Anyone who breaks those laws will be punished or pay some sort of consequences. As long as you abide by the law, you will not be penalized. When the rule of law is cherished and not abused, both citizens and governments thrive.