Why laws exist

That which must be obeyed and followed by citizens subject to sanctions or legal consequence is a law. Although intended to protect the fundamental rights and liberties of U.

At what point do we cross that fine line between legal and illegal, and on what basis is that line even drawn in the first place? Most people understand and accept laws prohibiting acts of murder, thievery, physical harm, and financial malfeasance, but there are plenty of other laws that might give us pause.

For example, in Minnesota, any game in which participants attempt to capture a greased or oiled pig is illegal. The same laws also prohibits turkey scrambles. Did you exceed a speed limit while driving? Roll through a stop sign at an empty intersection while riding your bike? Drive to the minimart without wearing your seatbelt? Although unlikely that you will be prosecuted and jailed for these minor traffic offenses, the fact is that you broke the law.

Why do we have so many laws? In a society such as the United States, the law informs everyday life in a wide variety of ways and is reflected in numerous branches of law. For example, contract law regulates agreements to exchange goods, services, or anything else of value, so it includes everything from buying a bus ticket to trading options on a derivatives market.

Tort law provides for compensation when someone or their property is harmed, whether in an automobile accident or by defamation of character. Those are fields of civil law, which deals with disputes between individuals.

Offenses against a federal, state, or local community itself are the subject of criminal law, which provides for the government to punish the offender. The law serves many purposes. Four principal ones are establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes, and protecting liberties and rights.

Laws help societies to maintain order. What would society be like without the rule of law? You might need to provide your own protection because there would be no police force or army. With the structure and organization of laws come order and predictability. Individuals can feel safe, leading to wider social structures and greater productivity.

Purpose of Business Law Business law is unique because it has so many aspects of other areas of law. We assist the residents, families, and businesses of Phoenix, AZ and the surrounding cities with simple and complex problems in the areas of business and real estate law.

We can help with estate planning , civil litigation , and other matters. If you need assistance with an important legal matter, call us at or visit our website today. Search for:. Different types of laws have been around for hundreds of years.

When you see a judge or magistrate sitting in court, you are actually looking at the result of 1, years of legal evolution. Laws have changed massively over the years. The accused would be forced to pick up a red-hot bar of iron, or tied up and thrown into a lake, often used to try suspected witches. If innocent, he or she would sink. The seeds of the modern justice system were sown by Henry II , who set up a jury of 12 local knights to settle disputes over the ownership of land.

Comparing this to the 40, plus judges employed around the country today just shows how far the law has evolved over the centuries. Although medieval and inhumane, the first records of a justice system demonstrate how there has always been a need to uphold a peaceful society and for people to clearly know right from wrong.