(noun) — In the United States, law refers to the system of rules, principles, and standards established and enforced by governmental authority to regulate behavior within a society. Laws are created through legislation (statutes), judicial decisions (case law), and administrative regulations, and they are intended to maintain order, protect rights and property, ensure justice, and promote the common good.
Example: The law requires drivers to stop at red lights.
Related terms: statute, regulation, case law, legal system, jurisprudence.