Classification of law

Each country in the world has its own system of law. Law is an important part of culture of any society. Like its language, law reflects values, history and current problems of a society. Law is found in constitutions, statues, cases decided by courts, regulations and ruling of administrative agencies.

There are two main traditions of law in the world. One is based on English Common law and has been adopted by many Commonwealth countries and most of the USA. The other tradition, or Roman law, has developed on most continental Europe, Latin America and many countries in Asia and Africa.

At an English university Law is divided into different subjects or “branches” for study. There is a list of subjects students study in the Law Faculty at Cambridge University: Roman Law (Civil Law), Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Land Law, International Law, Commercial Law, Labour Law, Conflict of Law, E. E. Law, Criminology, Criminal Procedure and Criminal Evidence, Equity.

Administrative Law is the area of Law relating to the functions and powers of government organizations and how they operate in practice to administer government policy.

Constitutional Law is the law relating to the legal structure of government in a State. It defines the principal organs of government and their relationship to each other and to the individual.

Private Law. In general, private law is the part of the law which deals with relations between ordinary individuals and also between ordinary individuals and the State in circum stances where the State has no special rights or powers.

Public Law. In general, public law is the part of legal system which deals with the State and also with relations between the State and ordinary individuals in circumstances where the State has special rights or powers.

Family Law is the area of law relating to the organization of the family and the legal relations of its members.

Labour Law is the area of law relating to the employment of workers. It includes their contracts and conditions of work, trade unions and the legal aspects of industrial relations. It is also called Industrial Law.

Criminal Law is the law relating to crime. It means illegal conduct for which a person may be prosecuted and punished by the State.

Land Law is the area of law which deals with rights and interests related to owning and using land. Land is the most important form of property.

International Law is the system of law which regulates relations between states. It is a special system of legal rules which is not part of any nation system of law.

The Law of Contract is the law relating to contracts.

The Law of Tort is the law relating to torts.

Comments

1. E. E. Law – Європейське економічне право.

2. Conflict of Law – конфліктне право.

3. Equity – право справедливості.

4. Commonwealth – спільність, співдружність.

5. Roman civil law – римське цивільне право

6. Law of Tort – правовий делікт.

7. Case Law – прецедентне право.

Word List

Statute – статут, законодавчий акт Парламенту;

case – судова справа;

English Common Law – англійське загальне право;

branch – гілка;

criminal evidence – кримінальне свідчення, доказ;

prosecute – порушувати судову справу;

to punish – карати;

to divide into – ділити;

regulations – нормативи;

statutory law – статутне право.