What does substantive law outline?

Substantive law defines the rights and duties of individuals and establishes what constitutes criminal behavior, as well as the corresponding penalties for those behaviors. It establishes the legal standards and principles that govern how individuals can interact with each other and what actions are permissible or impermissible under the law. This area of law is fundamental because it lays out the specific laws that can lead to prosecution or civil remedies.

While the other choices refer to different aspects of law, they do not encapsulate the essence of substantive law. For instance, procedures for enforcing laws pertain to procedural law, which outlines how substantive laws are enforced. Legal interpretation methods are concerned with how laws are interpreted rather than the rights and responsibilities defined by substantive law. Similarly, the process of criminal trials deals specifically with the judicial procedures involved in adjudicating criminal cases, rather than detailing what the laws are. Thus, the correct understanding of substantive law is crucial for comprehending the legal framework within which individuals operate.