What is a fundamental characteristic of public law?

The fundamental characteristic of public law is that it concerns the responsibilities of public officials and their relationship with individuals. Public law governs the interactions between individuals and the government, encompassing areas such as constitutional law, administrative law, and criminal law.

This branch of law is significant because it establishes the legal framework within which state authorities operate and delineates the rights of citizens. For example, it includes laws that protect individual rights against government actions and define the government’s responsibilities to the public, such as upholding civil rights and ensuring public order.

The other options focus on aspects that are not defining traits of public law. Private disputes between individuals are typically handled under private law, which governs relationships among private parties. Laws related solely to property rights fall under property law, also a matter of private law. Lastly, while international treaties can involve public law when they pertain to the conduct of states, public law itself is not strictly governed by these treaties, as it also encompasses domestic legal frameworks that do not necessarily rely on international agreements.