Medical Assistant Law and Ethics Practice Test 2026 - Free Medical Assistant Practice Questions and Study Guide

The concept identified as a rule of conduct established by an authority or society is best represented by the term "Law." Laws are formal rules that are created and enforced by governmental bodies. They serve as guidelines for acceptable behavior, establishing what is permissible and what is not within a society. Laws are designed to protect individuals and maintain order, providing a framework within which individuals and organizations must operate.

While ethics refers to moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conduct of an activity, and policy represents a principle or rule to guide decisions and achieve rational outcomes in specific situations, laws have the unique characteristic of being enforceable by legal institutions. Regulations, on the other hand, are rules established by governmental agencies to enforce laws, thereby adding a layer of organization and specificity to the legal framework. Thus, "Law" is the correct term as it encompasses the broader set of enforceable rules established by a society or authority.