Law is a set of rules that impose rights and obligations on people, social institutions, and governments. It has been described as both a science and an art, and is sometimes regarded as the basis for society. In common law jurisdictions, law is enacted by the legislative body, which is composed of legislators, or by the executive through decrees. It can also be created by private parties through legal contracts or arbitration agreements.
Principles of the Rule of Law
The rule of law is a set of laws and standards that govern a society and ensure that all its members have equal access to justice. This is achieved by competent, independent, impartial, and accessible representatives of the state with sufficient resources. These representatives should reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. The four principles outlined below are intended to define the rule of law, and are intended to serve as a guide for developing and implementing a country’s laws.
Legal institutions
Legal institutions exist to provide access to justice for the people. These institutions are composed of separate organizations that carry out complementary functions prescribed by law. One example of a legal institution is the federal constitution. Someone wrote the constitution and ratified it.
Civil society
A key part of the relationship between law and civil society is their mutual pressure. Civil society is a principled force and it has the ability to influence law enforcement. Its influence can be strong enough to prevent law enforcement from being corrupt or from overstepping its boundaries. This pressure is often manifested in the form of litigation.
Courts
Courts of law are a legal forum where disputes are resolved on the basis of law. The government creates these courts to enforce the law in the public interest. These courts are independent and impartial and often hear both criminal and civil cases.
Norms of fairness
The term “fairness” often expresses the idea of a fair division of something or of a fair response to other people’s behavior, but it is a more general concept. Social and moral norms such as reciprocity underlie the idea of fairness. According to Ernst Fehr, these norms arise from the interaction of different types of norms. He distinguishes three categories of moral norms: social norms, conditional norms, and quasi-moral norms.
Access to justice
Access to justice in law is an important topic, but much of the public debate about this issue focuses on the barriers to access, such as regulatory hurdles. Less attention is paid to barriers that hinder consumer engagement and awareness. In this article, we explore marketing strategies that can help expand consumer access, explore models of legal assistance that promote consumer trust, and explore the implications for reformers.