What purpose do laws serve in a community?

The functions of laws in society are:

1. Maintains social control
2. Protects public order
3. To resolve disputes
4. Protects certainty of systems
5. Facilitates orderly change
6. Brings out justice in society
7. Outlines what the government can do and what it can not do

The law is the body of rules imposed by a State upon its members which is designed to regulate human conduct within that State. The courts interpret these rules of conduct, decide whether they have been broken and pass sentence or make an award of compensation. A certain standard of behavior is thereby maintained amongst the members of the State in the interest of the common good.