Law means any rule of action or any system of uniformity.

Characteristics of law
1. It is a rule conduct - meaning it states what is should be done and what should not be
done.

2. It is obligatory - meaning it imposes a duty to obey and sometimes gives sanctions or

punishments to ensure obedience.

3. It is promulgated by legitimate authority - in the Philippines, the legitimate authority is the

legislative department of the Philippines or Congress.

4. It is of common observance or bene t - the purpose of law is to regulate the human

relations with each other and to the society. To ensure that everyone can bene t it must be
observed by all.

Principal Sources of Law

1. Constitution or the supreme law of the land. It is the law to which all other laws enacted by
the legislature, (as well as administrative or inactive acts, orders and regulations having the
force of law) must conform.

2. Legislation it consists of legal rules by a competent authority. This includes Presidential

Decrees, Batas Pambansa, Republic Acts and Ordinances in case of LGUs.

3. Administrative or Executive Orders, Regulations, and Rulings these are those issued by
the executive department performing legislative. They are usually intended to explain or
clarify the law and carry into e ect its general provisions.

4. Judicial Decision or Jurisprudence these are issued by the judiciary particularly the
Supreme Court. These are interpretations of the Supreme Court of the Constitution, laws.
The Supreme Court is the proper forum to determine the validity of a law, admin or
executive order, and regulations.

5. Custom It consists of those habits and practices which through long and uninterrupted
usage have become acknowledged and approved by society as binding rules of conduct. It
has the force of law when recognized and enforced by the state. It is simply the frequent
and free repetition of acts concerning the same thing.
Example: Where no de nite compensation is stipulated, the compensation to be paid may
be ascertained from customs and usages of the place.

6. Other sources. These came from principles of justice and equity, decisions of foreign
tribunals like U.S. decisions, and opinion of text writers.

Organization of Courts

Regular Courts

1. First Level Courts - Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, and Municipalities, Metropolitan Trial
Courts in Metropolitan areas establish by law, Municipal Circuit Trial Courts (Roxas).

2. Second Level Courts - Regional Trial Courts

3. Appellate Courts - Court of Appeals

4. Highest Courts - Supreme Court

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