What type of law defines, describes, regulates, and creates legal rights and obligations?

The correct answer is substantive law because it establishes the fundamental principles that define rights and obligations within the legal system. This type of law focuses on the actual content of the law and what rights individuals have, as well as the duties that they must fulfill. Substantive law encompasses various key aspects, such as contract law, tort law, property law, and other areas that determine how people may legally interact in society.

For instance, in the context of contract law, substantive law outlines the elements required for a contract to be legally binding, while tort law specifies what constitutes a wrongful act that causes harm to another party. Thus, it is the foundation upon which the rights and responsibilities of individuals and entities are built, making it essential for individuals to understand their legal standing and obligations in any given situation.

In contrast, procedural law focuses on the rules and processes that govern the legal system, such as how a case is initiated, the procedures for trial, and the appeals process. Civil law and criminal law are specific branches that fall under substantive law, where civil law deals with disputes between individuals or organizations, and criminal law pertains to actions considered harmful to society, but they do not encapsulate the broader scope of defining rights and obligations like substantive law does