In the United States, there are numerous sources of law that govern the country. The main sources of law are constitutions, statutes, regulations, and cases. These three branches of government, whether federal or state, create primary sources of law. The four main sources of law in the US are constitutional law, statutes or statutory law, regulatory law, and common law.
In addition, executive directors (the president and the various governors) can issue executive orders with effect of law. In international legal systems, sources of law include formal treaties/agreements concluded between national states. The responsibility related to the main sources of law is divided between the three branches of government, which are the judiciary, the legislative branch and the executive branch. The judiciary defends the four main sources of law and oversees trials related to violations of the law from the local and state levels to the Supreme Court.
To understand how these sources of law work together, it is important to look at each one individually. Constitutional law is a set of rules that govern how a country is run. It is usually written down in a document called a constitution. This document outlines the structure of government, its powers, and its limitations.
It also outlines certain rights that citizens have. Statutes or statutory laws are laws that are passed by legislatures. These laws are usually written down in a document called a statute book. Statutes can be passed at both federal and state levels.
They outline specific rules and regulations that must be followed by citizens and businesses. Regulatory laws are laws that are created by government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency or the Federal Trade Commission. These laws are designed to protect citizens from harm or unfair practices by businesses or other entities. Finally, common law is a set of rules that have been established over time through court decisions.
Common law is based on precedent, meaning that if a court has ruled on a similar case in the past, then it will likely rule in a similar way in future cases. Common law is often used to fill in gaps where statutes or regulations do not exist. Once you have thoroughly understood this lesson, evaluate your ability to analyze the sources of law in the American legal system, including the Constitution, statutes, regulations, and common law systems. Your mother or father may have been, for all intents and purposes, the source of the law if you misbehaved. Understanding how these sources of law work together is essential for anyone who wants to understand how laws are created and enforced in the United States. By understanding each source of law individually, you can gain a better understanding of how they all work together to create a cohesive legal system.
