Law is a system of rules and regulations that governs the conduct of individuals within a society. It promotes peaceful existence, upholds law and order, is a standard setting, an instrument of control and an attempt to bring about equity in the society.
Rule of law or Nomocracy: It is a concept that has been around for centuries and is known to have originated in ancient Greece. It has gained prominence in the past twenty-five years as an important part of democracy.
This concept states that a government should be responsible to its citizens and therefore must obey the laws of the country it serves, regardless of how arbitrary these laws may seem. This idea has been a source of conflict for many years and was often debated by philosophers, especially Aristotle.
Legislation: It is the process of creating a law by writing it into a formal document, such as a constitution or a statute. It can be made by the legislature of a state or a federal government. It can also be made by administrative agencies.
Various types of law exist, such as municipal/national laws, international laws and statutes. Each type of law carries its own distinct purpose and effect on the people of a country.
Laws can be codified or unwritten. Written law includes the statutes of a government or state and other legal documents, such as contracts and court decisions. The unwritten rules are found in customary law, Islamic law, equity and common law.
The Constitution: This is a set of written laws that determine the powers and responsibilities of the government. It is the most important of the laws because it is the foundation of a nation.
It contains seven articles that describe the structure and functions of a government. It is a very important aspect of the United States Constitution and has been the subject of much controversy.
Articles of legislation are compiled into volumes called session laws and come out in chronological order (one by one) during each legislative session. These volume collections include both public and private laws and are organized by topic.
Statutes: They are collections of laws that come out of the legislatures in a series of slip laws and bound volumes called session laws. These volume collections usually contain all the laws enacted during a single session of the legislature and can be searched using the tables of contents or indexes.
They are a good way to find newer cases and other materials related to the law of a particular state or country. They are particularly useful for locating case summaries and opinions by judges, attorneys general and other government officials.
SSRN and bepress: These resources allow scholars in various disciplines to post their work before it is published, giving them the opportunity to receive feedback from colleagues and see what others have published prior to the actual publication date. They are also an excellent way to stay informed about upcoming legal issues and to gain access to scholarship before it is published in a traditional journal.