There are four kinds of law, including Common law, International law, Civil law, and Customary law. These four kinds of law govern how we live and what we can do, and are therefore very important. They also have a wide range of applications.
Common law
During the common law period, agriculture and land ownership were the most important sources of wealth. The church played an important role in the government. When justice needed to be done, the monarch would issue formal orders called “writs”. Unlike a statute, common law is not written, but instead embodies reports of court cases and decisions.
The earliest common law cases were based on ancient Roman law. After the feudalism period, most European countries retained Roman law. However, the centralization of power in England in the middle ages diminished the reception of Roman law.
Common law, also called case law, is a body of legal principles established by judges and other judicial authorities. These principles are stated in written opinions and are used to form the basis of future rulings. The term “stare decisis” is often used to describe this principle.
Civil law
Unlike criminal law, which deals with behavior against the government or society in general, civil law focuses on behavior against private parties. This includes things like defamation and property damage.
Unlike criminal law, however, civil cases do not usually involve imprisonment. Instead, a monetary award is a punishment.
A civil law system is based on several implied provisions, or statutory statutes passed by the government. Some of these statutes contain mandatory notice periods. The government may also wish to require the disclosure of certain documents or prohibit the service provider from cutting off bad payers.
The most important part of a civil law system is the codified statutes. These are referred to as the body of civil law, also known as the corpus juris civilis. Approximately 150 countries around the world have a civil law system.
Customary law
‘Customary law’ is a system of rules and regulations that guide behavior in primitive and tribal societies. These norms can also be used as a basis for international law standards. In addition, they are often passed down through generations. The main concepts under customary law include ethnic solidarity, collective responsibility, and vicarious liability.
While customary law is often considered an unwritten system, many have been written down by scholars. Similarly, many customary laws have been accepted by the courts. This gives them added weight and influence.
Customary law is also important for modern international trade. In Namibia, for example, traditional communities have written down their customary law to ensure clarity.
International law
Traditionally, international law has been defined as a set of rules and norms that govern the interactions of states. However, international law has expanded to include interactions between humans and non-state actors, such as corporations and religious groups.
International law is a complex system of rules and procedures designed to provide an international framework for interactions among states. Initially, international law focused on norms governing interactions during wartime. However, globalization has caused international law to expand to include a variety of interactions and rules.
International law began to develop in the ancient Middle East, as various polities from the eastern Mediterranean to East Asia signed various agreements. One of the seminal events of international law was the Peace of Westphalia, which established independent sovereign states, known as nation-states.
Environmental law
Essentially, environmental law is a set of voluntary standards that are designed to improve the environment. These laws can range from protecting the air to ensuring that chemicals are used safely.
The Clean Air Act is one example of an air quality and pollution law. The law sets federal standards for hazardous air pollutants and air quality. It also establishes a permit system for major sources of air pollution.
Another example is the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as “Superfund.” This act provides funds for cleanups and sanctions for polluters. The law also assigns broad liability to parties who dispose of waste in improper ways.
Competition law
Various countries have passed competition laws to protect consumers and businesses from unethical practices. There are a variety of tools available to enforce these laws.
There are three main groups of competition rules. These include the laws that ban agreements that restrict free trade, the laws that prohibit abuse of a dominant position, and the rules that ban cartels.
Competition policy covers a variety of areas, including business interactions, consumer protection, and public policy. It is important to understand how competition laws and policies work since failure to comply can result in fines and other financial penalties.
Conclusion
Anti-competitive practices include anti-competitive agreements, exclusive dealing, bid rigging, and group boycotts. Businesses should be aware of these practices and avoid them if possible.
