University:
The University of Pittsburgh
Course:
CJS 1300 | Law and Politics
Academic year:

2019
Views:

114

Pages:

2
Author:

mns81

Official Legal Texts • Lawyers and judges resolve disputes by referring to and reasoning about official legal texts created by the state, texts that is called rules of law or legal rules • There are four categories of these legal rules: ○ Statutes ○ The laws, the statutes passed by legislatures ○ The rules defining types of behavior that society wishes to condemn □ Crimes □ Civil rights □ Income tax rates ○ Legislators do not enact statutes to cover everything □ When lawyers and judges face a problem not covered by a statute they turn to common law ○ Common Law ○ The older set of legal texts ○ Judges make law different from legislators □ Judges decide on individual cases, creating legal rules ○ Many common law rules originated in local custom or in minds of judges themselves ○ Constitutional Law § The Constitution of the United States and the fifty state constitutions set out the structure and powers of government § They place legal limits on the way those who govern can use their power § Constitutions can only govern the government □ Presidents □ Alleged conflict between a constitutional provision and a decision made by a public administrator who claims to act under statutory authority. ○ Administrative Regulations claims to act under statutory authority. ○ Administrative Regulations