Law is an ordered system of rules developed and enforced by governmental or communal institutions to control behavior, usually with the precise definition being a matter of customary law. It is said that law is the only true path of knowledge and wisdom. In a broader sense, however, it is used to define right conduct and action. It is said that knowledge and wisdom are inseparable. It was different in pre-classical times from what we know it to be today.
In ancient times; knowledge and wisdom were part of a community whose members possessed the skills and knowledge needed to interpret, analyze, evaluate, and apply the law. A community’s interpretation of the law could not be affected by conflicting points of view among its members. For example, two neighboring villages might agree on the application of a rule that prohibits burning down trees, but they may disagree on the meaning of the prohibition itself.
The difference in their interpretation is legally irrelevant; Therefore, in pre-classical times, the individual had no authority to impose his or her ideas on others; therefore, there were no courts to determine what the law demanded.
In modern societies, judges are vested with the responsibility of interpreting the Constitution and the body of law established by the constitution. The decisions of judges are appealed to only when the decisions are contrary to public policy, for which an appeal must be made to a higher court. The ultimate arbiter of law is the constitution itself, and all laws enacted by the legislature are binding on the courts. There are two types of courts: Federal and State. In the United States, the Federal courts consist of the U.S. Supreme Court and Federal circuit courts.
All laws enacted by the legislature are subject to amendment; revision, or even outright deletion by the legislative body. Except for criminal laws, which can be declared null and void by the legislature, all other laws are law until changed by the legislature. However, a law which is declared null and void is immediately canceled from the books of law. Congress has the power to pass laws which restrict the powers of the states and the courts have the duty to enforce these laws. However, in the event that the legislature violates its constitutional duty to enforce the laws, they are then automatically taken over by the courts.
A part of the judicial system is known as “jurisdiction” ; which involves the authority, either actual or inherent, of a court to decide legal questions. Within the jurisdiction of a court are various types of cases, including civil, criminal, economic, administrative, and litigation. Civil cases involve disputes between individuals, organizations, and other governmental entities. Criminal cases involve disputes between private individuals and entities. Economic cases deal with private parties and associations. Administrative law involves governmental organizations such as universities and colleges, while litigation cases that involve a party who has a vested interest in disputing a law or the constitution.
The United States Constitution; gives the courts the authority to hear cases, to decide cases, and to make decisions about all of the powers conferred upon the federal government and all of the aspects of American life. Although there is no express guarantee that the US government will never violate the Constitution, the United States Supreme Court has repeatedly held that it is the responsibility of the American people to check the government whenever it exceeds the limited scope of the Constitution. This requirement is not only necessary to prevent tyranny, it is also necessary to prevent an overreaching government. The role of the Supreme Court is primarily to interpret the Constitution and to declare its purposes in terms of what the Constitution actually says rather than what a legislature might think the Constitution requires.
