What does 'public law' govern?

Public law governs relationships between individuals and the government, which encompasses a broad range of legal matters that involve the state and its regulations. This includes constitutional law, administrative law, and criminal law, where the state’s authority interacts with individual rights and freedoms. For instance, public law regulates how governmental powers are exercised and ensures that individuals are protected from arbitrary actions by the state.

The other options focus on different areas of law. Interactions among private individuals pertain to private law, which includes contract law and tort law. Commercial transactions between businesses are also governed under private law, particularly through commercial law. Family law matters, such as marriage, divorce, and custody issues, fall under a separate category altogether that is distinct from public law, as it typically governs private relationships rather than the interactions with government authority.