What does "substantive law" deal with?

Substantive law fundamentally addresses the rights and duties of individuals within a legal context. It encompasses laws that define and regulate the legal relationships among people, as well as the provisions of rights granted to individuals and the responsibilities they must uphold. For example, substantive law includes various areas such as contract law, tort law, and property law, which articulate what individuals can and cannot do and the legal remedies available when rights are violated.

In contrast, other options focus on different aspects of the law. The procedures for enforcing rights fall under procedural law, which deals with the steps that must be taken in the legal process. The regulatory framework of government refers to the rules set by administrative agencies and is distinct from substantive law, which focuses on the content of legal rights. Lastly, the penalties for criminal offenses concern criminal law aspects, but they don't define the rights and duties themselves; they are consequences for violations rather than the foundational rights and responsibilities established by substantive law.