Definition of Law and Purpose of Law

Legal Literacy - Every student, even law graduates, needs to know what the meaning and purpose of law are. Law is a system of rules or order that regulates people's lives. Law has the purpose of creating order, justice, and social welfare. Let's look at a more detailed explanation in the following article.

Introduction

Law is a system of rules or order that regulates people's lives. Law regulates various aspects of people's lives, from personal, family, social, economic, to political aspects. Law has the purpose of creating order, justice, and social welfare. Legal order will be created if everyone obeys the applicable law. Legal justice will be created if everyone receives the same treatment before the law. Legal welfare will be created if the law can provide protection and fulfillment of people's rights.

Understanding of Law

According to the Indonesian Dictionary, law is a regulation or custom that is officially recognized and confirmed by the government as a guideline for community behavior. According to legal experts, law has various meanings, including:

1. According to Prof. Dr. Mochtar Kusumaatmadja, S.H., law is a set of binding regulations, made by authorized bodies, which must be obeyed by members of society, and which, if violated, will result in sanctions.
2. According to Prof. Dr. Sudikno Mertokusumo, S.H., law is a set of regulations that are generally and regularly binding, made by authorized authorities, which are coercive, with the aim of regulating social order.
3. According to Prof. Dr. Satjipto Rahardjo, S.H., law is a set of rules that regulate social life made by authorized authorities and have a coercive nature.

From these various definitions, it can be concluded that law is a coercive regulation made by authorized authorities to regulate social life and which aims to create order, justice, and social welfare.

Read Also: Understanding Criminal Law: Interpretation, Construction, and Systematics

Objectives of Law

Law has the purpose of creating order, justice, and social welfare. Legal order will be created if everyone obeys the applicable law. Legal justice will be created if everyone receives the same treatment before the law. Legal welfare will be created if the law can provide protection and fulfillment of people's rights. Here is a brief explanation regarding the objectives of law:

• Legal order is an orderly and organized state in society caused by everyone obeying the applicable laws.
• Legal justice is a just state that occurs in society because everyone receives equal treatment before the law.
• Legal welfare is a prosperous state that occurs in society caused by the law being able to provide protection and fulfillment of people's rights.