What does Civil law primarily govern?

• A. Disputes between government and individuals
• B. Civil liberties and constitutional rights
• C. Disputes between private citizens or entities
• D. Regulatory compliance and enforcement

Answer: (C)

Civil law primarily governs disputes between private citizens or entities. This branch of law is fundamentally focused on resolving non-criminal disputes, such as contractual disagreements, property issues, family law matters, and tort cases where one party claims to have suffered harm due to the actions of another. It seeks to provide compensation or resolve conflicts without imposing criminal penalties.

Civil law plays a crucial role in everyday interactions and transactions, ensuring that individuals and organizations can seek remedies for grievances through the judicial system. This emphasis on resolving disputes between private parties distinguishes civil law from criminal law, which addresses offenses against the state or society as a whole.

The other choices, while relevant in the broader legal context, do not encapsulate the primary function of civil law. For example, disputes between government and individuals would typically fall under administrative law or constitutional law, while civil liberties and constitutional rights are more focused on the protections afforded to individuals against government actions. Regulatory compliance and enforcement relate to the adherence to laws and regulations, often tied to administrative law rather than civil law specifically.