Society and the Law Introduction: why do we have law?

Abstract

We often declare that Britain is ‘a free country’ and that we, its citizens, are ‘free to do as we like’. Yet everyone of us is governed by an enormous number of rules and laws in the course of our daily lives. Anyone who joins a sports club or becomes a student at the local college is expected to comply with the rules and regulations of that organisation. Rules of this kind are internal rules and rarely apply to anyone who is not connected with the organisation. As we travel to the club, the college or our place of work, we are governed by a much wider set of rules which apply to the public at large. Rules of this kind are referred to as ‘law’. The law requires certain conduct from us: to stop at a red traffic light; to attend school up to the age of 16; to pay the correct fare on the bus; to pay our rent on time; and not to assault a stranger. Whenever we go shopping, go to work, draw money out of the bank, collect our social security benefit, engage in a business or drive a car, the law sets down a set of guidelines and restrictions and expects everyone to comply with them. So how can we say we are ‘free’ when we readily accept these rules which limit our freedom? In other words, why do societies have law?