The study of law is the study of the system of rules that govern a nation or community. It can have many purposes, including keeping the peace and maintaining the status quo, protecting minorities against majorities, and promoting social justice and orderly change. Some legal systems serve these purposes better than others, including authoritarian governments that oppress political opponents and minorities. Others, such as empires built by Britain, Spain, France, and the Netherlands, enforced peace in a country by enforcing their legal systems.

The definition of law is broad and varies by country. It is often referred to as a “body of rules” or the “body of laws” in a nation. A person may be breaking a single law, a set of laws, or the entire legal code of a country. In the United States, a law may be made by a group or single legislator, a judge, or an executive through decree. Private individuals can also make and enforce agreements based on legal rules.

Laws provide a framework for settling disputes and a system to bring disputes before an impartial fact-finder. Disputes between people are common in a well-ordered society, and law provides a way to resolve them peacefully. It also creates a civil society and helps keep society safe. A Canadian legal system protects individual rights and makes society orderly. Regardless of gender, ethnicity, or religion, a law will apply to all.