An Overview of Our Legal System

In the United States, the two prominent theories about the underlying purpose of law are consensus theory and conflict theory. the basic purpose of our legal system is to ensure fairness in balancing individual and social rights and needs,while preventing excessive government power. this balance between individual and social rights and needs is represented by the scales of justice.
Our legal system has its roots in the common law of England, the early English judge-made law, based on custom and tradition, that was followed throughout the country. As a term in american law, common law is s…