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Canon law (from Greek kanon, a ‘straight measuring rod, ruler’) is a set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical authority , for the government of a Christian organisation or church and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the individual national churches within the Anglican Communion. The way that such church law is legislated, interpreted and at times adjudicated varies widely among these three bodies of churches. In all three traditions, a canon was originally a rule adopted by a church council; these canons formed the foundation of canon law. Definitions of law often raise the question of the extent to which law incorporates morality.

• One definition is that law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behaviour.
• William Blackstone, from around 1760, was the first scholar to collect, describe, and teach the common law.
• Negligence does not carry criminal responsibility unless a particular crime provides for its punishment.
• Academic opinion is divided on whether it