US Legal System

3 branches of gov

• judicial

• executive

• legislative

judicial branch

interpret laws

legislative branch

make laws

executive branch

enforce laws

how does a bill become a statute

• introduce bill to congress

• bill reviewed by committee

• bill placed on calendar and then called for discussion

• vote on bill

• repeat process in other chamber

• diffs between both bills rectified

• president signs bill into law

how is a regulation approved into a law

“notice and comment” approach

preemption doctrine

supports federal law > state law when they conflict

federal agencies relevant to pharmacy

• centers for medicare and medicaid

• FDA

• drug enforcement admin

state agencies relevant to pharmacy

• state board of pharmacy

• state dept of health service

• state medicaid agency

3 types of legal action that can be taken against a pharmacist

• violation of statute

• violation of regulation

• injury to priv party

violation of statute

brought by gov → deter activity and punish pharmacist

violation of regulation

admin action brought by admin agency (ex: warning, fine, license revoked) → deter activity and punish pharmacist

injury to priv party

civil action brought by priv party (ex: lawsuit) → compensate injured party for damages caused by pharmacist