What is canon law?

Canon law is a system of laws and regulations developed or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of a Christian organization or church and its members. It governs not only the internal organization and structure of the church but also addresses the conduct and moral expectations of its members. Typically associated with the Catholic Church, although other Christian denominations have their own forms of canon law, it serves as a guiding framework for governance, sacraments, and various church functions.

This is distinct from the other types of laws mentioned. Federal law pertains to the national legal framework of a country, while civil law governs disputes between individual entities and outlines rights and obligations, and criminal law pertains to laws that define offenses against the state and the punishments for those offenses. Each of these legal systems operates within its own realm, whereas canon law specifically pertains to the governance of religious institutions and their adherents.