Law is the set of rules that form a framework to ensure a peaceful society. If those rules are broken then sanctions can be imposed, such as fines or imprisonment. It is also a term used to describe the professions that deal with the creation, enforcement and application of laws. The purpose of law is to protect the rights and liberties of citizens as well as ensuring economic stability and social justice.

Law is a complex subject with many different definitions. Some people believe that it is simply a system of rules created and enforced by government agencies. Others believe that it is a system of values and ethics. In order to understand what law is it is important to have a clear understanding of its meaning and purpose.

The simplest interpretation of law is that it is a system of rules that is enforceable by an authority, such as a court of justice or a legislative body. In this way the authority creates a code that defines what is acceptable and what is not. This code is then interpreted and applied by judges and other people who are considered to be above politics. The most popular view of law is that it is a means of control. It is a system that is used to control the behavior of the citizenry and that it is coercive in nature. This view was originally expressed by the philosopher Hans Kelsen who proposed what is known as the pure theory of law.

Another school of thought on the law is that it consists of various laws and regulations put together to make one complete system. This is similar to how the human body has several organs that are connected to perform a specific function. The law is the same in this sense, with different laws serving to regulate specific parts of a country or a society.

For example, contract law governs agreements and contracts to exchange goods and services. This includes everything from a parking ticket to an options agreement on the stock market. Property law defines people’s rights and duties toward tangible property (real estate, such as land or buildings) and personal property (movable objects such as cars and computers) as well as intangible property (such as intellectual property or shares). Banking law covers the regulation of banks and financial institutions. In addition, there is a wide range of law that deals with governmental affairs such as taxes, pensions and unemployment benefits. Similarly, there are laws that regulate utilities such as water, energy and telecommunications. These types of laws are considered a public service and are overseen by public law bodies.