Role and Functions of Law - Essay Example

According to Reference.com (2007), law is defined as: “rules of conduct of any organized society, however simple or small, that are enforced by threat of punishment if they are violated. Modern law has a wide sweep and regulates many branches of conduct.” Law is the set of rules that help government in governing the conduct, social behavior, handle disputes, conflicts and deal with crime. Based on its role, law is classified into various categories like: criminal, civil, labor law. These play a major role in the society and its institutions.

Criminal law has the powers to prosecute a criminal for an action that is deemed or defined as crime according to the letter of law. It has nothing to do with ethics or moral. It is not personal neither religious. It is objective and lays common law for all citizens of a country. Legislatures frame law by passing acts, bills and statutes. There are laws that govern the social and constitutional rights of each individual. They ensure safety and security of the citizens. Under civil law a citizen can file a suit for a compensation, etc.

There are also guidelines in the form of procedural law that guides the jurisdictions of various courts. They detail on the trial methods and judgments. Different branches of law specialize in unique institutional and behavioral aspects of the society. It is the constitution of any country that delegates powers to various heads and sectors within the government. For instance, the US constitution Article II gives the president the executive power and it also states the powers of the US Supreme court and other Federal courts (Mallor and Barnes, pg. 54). This decides the powers of jurisdiction of various courts like appellate courts, state courts and trails courts, etc.

It also says the extent to which state legislatures can exert their powers. In discussing the role that lawyers play in our society, Norman Redlich, Dean at New York