What is material law?

Material law refers to the substantive laws that govern the rights and obligations of individuals and entities within a legal system. It encompasses various legal domains, including criminal law, contract law, tort law, and property law, which define what is legal or illegal, permissible or impermissible. Unlike procedural law, which focuses on the processes and methods of enforcing legal rights, material law establishes the actual content and principles that guide legal decision-making.