law
- law
Law is the body of public rules that is binding throughout the political community and is enforced by the power of the state. It provides the state with legitimate authority over its members. It is related to politics, in that much law has been passed by Parliament and is the product of argument between the main parties. However, if politics is a part of the process by which laws are made, once established law is superior to it and acquires a majesty and importance far beyond that of any political cause or party. Law is often seen as synonymous with justice and morality, both of which concepts are also concerned with the regulation of human conduct. But whereas laws must be observed (otherwise punishment will follow), moral principles enunciate what should happen: if these guidelines are not observed, no sanction will follow. Moreover, something may be illegal without being immoral, such as over-staying one’s time limit at a parking meter.
Glossary of UK Government and Politics .
2013.
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law — / lȯ/ n [Old English lagu, of Scandinavian origin] 1: a rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority: as a: a command or provision enacted by a legislature see also statute 1 b:… … Law dictionary
law, at — adj. Pertaining to law; related to the law or the legal profession. The Essential Law Dictionary. Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008 … Law dictionary
law of the case — law of the case: a doctrine in legal procedure: an issue esp. of law that has been decided (as by an appeals court) will not be reconsidered in the same case unless compelling circumstances warrant such reconsideration; also: a matter of law… … Law dictionary
law review — n often cap L&R: a periodical (as one published by a law school or bar association) containing notes and articles analyzing and evaluating subject areas and developments in the law Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. law… … Law dictionary
law of the land — 1: the established law of a nation or region 2: due process Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 … Law dictionary
Law Commission — a body established by the Law Commissions Act 1965 to examine the law with a view to its systematic development and reform, including the codification of law, the elimination of anomalies, the repeal of obsolete and unnecessary enactments, and… … Law dictionary
law merchant — n: the commercial rules developed under English common law that influenced modern commercial law and that are referred to as supplementing rules set down in the Uniform Commercial Code and in state codes Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law.… … Law dictionary
Law of the Sea — often cap L&S: a body of international law promulgated by United Nations convention and covering a range of ocean matters including territorial zones, access to and transit on the sea, environmental preservation, and the resolution of… … Law dictionary
law clerk — n: one (as a law school graduate) who provides a judge, magistrate, or lawyer with assistance in such matters as research and analysis Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. law clerk … Law dictionary
law of admiralty — See: maritime law Category: Small Claims Court & Lawsuits Nolo’s Plain English Law Dictionary. Gerald N. Hill, Kathleen Thompson Hill. 2009. law of admiralty … Law dictionary
Law Reports — the publications in which the decisions of the courts are recorded. It should, however, be appreciated that in the UK and in many other jurisdictions these are private publications rather than state operated. The publisher makes the reports more… … Law dictionary
