General Principles of Law
General Principles of Law
General Principles of Law
Law is a body of rules which are binding on every person in each country and which
are enforced by the state.
Law is a set of rules or principles that govern the conduct of affairs in a given community at a
given time with the provision for an aggrieved party to enforce his rights in case a wrong has
been committed against him.
The following points arise from the above definition.
i) Set of rules
These rules originate from customs, Acts of parliament, court cases and other
acceptable sources.
ii) Guidance of human conduct
iii) Applicable to a community - Apply to a specific community e.g. a sovereign state,
business community or workers.
iv) Change of rules. Laws keep on changing with time –amendment.
v) Enforcement
Laws are enforced by the police and courts of law in order to maintain law and
order.
Purpose of law
a) To regulate the conduct or behaviour of persons.
b) To provide justice to the members of the society.
c) To maintain the political and economic stability.
d) Protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals.
e) Establish the procedures and regulations regarding the dealings among the
individuals.
f) To maintain the peace and security in the country.
b) Private Law
State has no interest so long as law and order are maintained.
It may be described as the branch of the law which is primarily concerned with the
rights and duties of individual citizens. It includes the law of contract, the law of
Torts, the law of succession, the law of Agency, the law of insurance etc.
e) International Law
(i) Public international law
This is the branch of international law which regulates the relations between
the various nations of the world and is based on treaties, contentious, or customs
which have been adopted bilaterally or collectively under the auspices of the
United Nations Organization. Disputes between states can be settled by the
international Count of justice. However, this court does not have authority to
enforce its judgments.