sources of law

the four sources of law

1. constitution

2. case law

3. statutory law

4. administrative regulations/executive orders

constitution

the foundational documents (federal and state) that set up the structure of government and guarantee basic individual rights. the u.s. constitution is the supreme law of the land.

statutory law

a formal, written law enacted by a legislative body, such as congress, a state legislature, or a city council, that is organized into official codes and applies to everyone within that jurisdiction

case law

the body of written decisions made by judges in individual court cases that sets a legal precedent, guiding how future courts interpret and apply the law in similar situations

administrative regulations

detailed rules created and enforced by executive branch agencies to carry out. the broader laws passed by congress or legislatures

executive orders

official directives issued by a president or governer to manage the operations of the executive branch and federal agencies, carrying the full force of law without requiring legislative approval

legislative branch

made up of elected representatives like congress or a parliament — responsible for writing, debating, and voting on statutory laws

executive branch

led by a president, governer, or prime minister — responsible for enforcing and administering laws, running government agencies, and issuing official directives

judicial branch

the system of courts and judges responsible for interpreting laws, resolving legal disputes, and deciding if laws or government actions violate the constitution

checks and balances

a system that allows each branch of government to amend, block, or limit the actions of the other branches to prevent any single branch from being too powerful