In this article you will learn about the Meaning and Nature of Law in Political Science.
Nature of Law
Law is a set of rules, regulations, principles and instructions that are created and enforced by the authority or government over a certain state or territory. Law is the command of the superior to an inferior in which the latter must obey the former. In a country, the law is made by the government where the citizens of that place must follow the rules made or else certain punishments are also made for the violation of those laws.
The nature of law is a very complex topic that has been the subject of much debate and discussion throughout history. Law is a set of rules and regulations that govern the behaviour of individuals and society as a whole and these rules are created to promote order, peace and stability to protect the rights and interests of all members of society.
One of the key features of law is that it is a system of rules that is enforced by the state. This means that laws are created and enforced by the government, and any individual who violates these laws can be punished by the state. This is in contrast to other forms of social control, such as traditions and customs, which are not enforced by the state and are instead upheld by the community.
Another important aspect of the nature of law is that it is based on the concept of justice. This means that laws are created to promote fairness and equality, and to protect the rights and interests of every individual. This is the reason why laws are often changed and updated over time, because a society evolves and changes from time to time.
Let us understand the nature of Law by studying its features.
- Law is the formulated will of the State - The State creates various rules and regulations that are to be followed by the people of the state. These are made and enforced by the government of the State. So the State always acts through Law.
- Everyone is equal before the Law - The law is applied to all people of the state and it regulates the behaviour of the people. All the people are equally subject to the laws of their State. And it is also applied to the aliens who are living in the territory of the State.
- Law creates authoritative values - The law prescribes what should be done and what should not be done and also specifies the process in which activities should take place.
- People violating the law are punished by the state - The person breaking the law of the state is first arrested by the police and then the courts decide their case and give punishments to the violators of the law.
- The court protects the violation of the Law - The courts settle disputes and discussions amongst the people and their groups and between the government and the people on the basis of law. The persons or anything which is found guilty are punished for violating the laws. However, all disputes among the people, their groups and associations are settled by an interpretation and application of the Law of the State.
The main purpose of Law is to provide peace and harmony, protection and security to the people and for their all-round development i.e. development of the society as a whole. It also provides protection to the rights and freedoms of the people. Equality before law and equal protection of law for all without any discrimination stand recognised as the essential principles of the society.
This article on Nature of Law in Political Science is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.