What defines 'substantive law'?

The correct answer, which defines 'substantive law,' highlights laws that limit or require specific conduct. Substantive law is focused on the rights and duties of individuals and collective bodies, dictating what people can and cannot do. It encompasses the fundamental legal principles that determine the legal rights of individuals and the regulations governing their actions.

This foundational aspect of law serves to create a framework within which individuals operate, ensuring that certain standards of behavior are maintained in society. For instance, laws that delineate obligations in contracts, criminal codes that define permissible behavior, and regulations governing public conduct are all encompassed within substantive law.

In contrast, laws governing navigation rights, punitive laws, and laws related to environmental safety can all be considered examples of specific areas of substantive law, but they do not encapsulate its broader definition. Each of those options focuses on specific applications or areas of law rather than the general principle that substantive law is rooted in defining conduct and responsibilities. Thus, recognizing that substantive law encompasses a wide scope of legal regulations and behavioral standards clarifies why the identification of it as 'laws that limit or require specific conduct' is the most accurate definition.