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 …showed first 75 words of 314 total…

…showed last 75 words of 314 total…or criminal laws are broken, the courts' two main function are to settle controversies between parties and to decide the rule of law that apply in specific cases. The American legal system is made up of a number of necessary components. It is basically a two-tiered system consisting os state and federal courts. Each tier includes specific levels of courts. The officers of the court are judges, lawyers, clerks of court, sheriffs, marshals and bailiffs.