Law is a set of rules that governs and is enforced by governmental and social institutions. It is also referred to as a science of justice or the art of rules. There are many different types of laws, including common law, civil law, and international law. State-enforced laws are made by legislatures, by the executive through decrees, or by courts. Private individuals also use the law to create agreements that are legally binding, including contracts and arbitration agreements.
Another important area of law is regulation, which deals with the provision of public services and utilities. Some examples of this are water law and energy law. Privatisation has removed many of these services from public ownership, but private companies performing the jobs previously held by governments are bound by varying degrees of social responsibility. Most OECD countries have a high level of regulation in the energy, gas, and telecomms industries.
The United Nations Charter also calls for a comprehensive development of international law. In 1947, the General Assembly established the International Law Commission (ILC). The Commission consists of 34 members from the world’s main legal systems. Unlike many other organizations, the commission does not represent a particular government. Its members serve as independent experts in international law and advise on issues affecting their countries.
False imprisonment is a type of violation of law that applies when employers improperly detain a person without cause and fail to grant their employee the liberty to leave. This type of violation is particularly damaging to employers who want to protect their reputation and the welfare of their employees.