What is Government Law? This topic covers a broad area in the legal field. U.S. Federal Government Law addresses government interactions on a national scale, and is largely composed of administrative law and constitutional law. While State and Local Government Law (state and municipal government law) deals largely with how government operates on the state and local level, with state and city governments and agencies, as well as interactions with businesses and private citizens.
The U.S. Federal Government is composed of three branches: the legislative branch creates law; the judicial branch interprets the law; and the executive branch administers, or “executes” the law. This government is established by the U.S. Constitution.
The Federal Government shares control of the United Sates with individual U.S. State governments. State governments are made up of their own legislative, judicial and executive branches and are given a fair share of autonomy to create laws for their individual states, although federal law holds precedence. State law also establishes and regulates local government for cities, towns, counties, and other communities.
Local Government Law addresses a variety of issues, topics and legal areas. These include, but are not limited to, the following: Sunshine laws for public access to government records and processes; municipal planning for land use and zoning law; licensing and regulatory law; labor rights, discrimination, wage laws and FLSA, FMLA, ADA and more with regards to employment and personnel law for government workers and employers; utilities and telecommunication law for government entities such as gas, water & electric companies, cell phone towers and easements; property taxes, assessments, user fees and other taxation law for city revenues; eminent domain law; environmental law as it applies to government regulations; HRA’s and other housing agencies for development, redevelopment and affordable housing issues; tax abatements and other forms of public finance; and government contracts.
Additionally, there is Tribal Government law. This involves Native American tribes and the powers and authority granted to them as members of various Indian nations, tribes, bands, etc. Tribal Government law deals with the individual tribal governments, rules and laws, as well as their interactions with the U.S. Federal government and state governments. Copyright HG.org
Know Your Rights!
- Federal, State, or Local: Who has Jurisdiction?
We often discuss jurisdiction, or hear it used in TV crime shows, but what does “jurisdiction” mean? For that matter, when is something a federal, state, or local matter and who can enforce which laws? How is this determined?
Articles on HG.org Related to Government Law
- Bystanders Injured in Police PursuitsWhen police suspect criminal activity is afoot, a police pursuit may give rise. While the law enforcement officer is attempting to capture a criminal, sometimes innocent people wind up injured because of such pursuits. When this occurs, questions arise as to the liability of the parties involved.
- New Indiana Law Makes it Illegal to Leave a Crashed Vehicle in the RoadHouse Bill No. 1048 will add a section to the Indiana Code that makes it illegal for vehicles involved in an accident to remain on the road. As of July 1, 2016, crashed vehicles will be required to move off the road as quickly as possible.
- Plan Bay Area: An Evaluation by California Land Use LawyersCalifornia land use lawyers have filed suit against the Association of Bay Area Governments in an effort to preserve Californians' constitutionally protected property rights
- Florida “Murderabilia” and “Son of Sam” LawsIt is the times really, crime fascinates our society, and the morbid curiosity for all things crime can be nauseating at extreme levels. The biggest culprits for the advance of this crime fascination are the media and cinema.
- It's Time to Prepare for the Legislative Off-SeasonIt's nearly half-way through the 2016 legislative interim and we’re right around the corner from the 2017 legislative session. For many, this is the perfect time to lay the groundwork for the next legislative session. What can you do to prepare for the next session? With the help of an experienced Texas lobbyist you can begin to prepare your legislation for next session, start a grassroots or media campaign for public support and find the right legislator to sponsor your bill.
- "Parole In Place" for Family Members of U.S. Military Service Members and Former U.S. Military Service MembersThe Attorney General has limited discretionary authority to grant parole to an alien who is in the United States without an immigration status. This exercise of parole is called “parole in place.”
- Federal Regulations for Self-Driving CarsSelf-driving cars are one of the latest technological advances in the automobile industry. According to certain automobile companies, self-driving cars that require occasional driver intervention are only a few years away, and completely self-driving cars are not far behind.
- Firework Laws in Fort Worth - What's Illegal?Every year around the Fourth of July and New Year's, we get tons of questions about firework laws in Fort Worth. Given the hazard of fireworks, there are a number of Texas laws that control their sale and use.
- Spoliation in GeorgiaThe changes made by the Georgia Supreme Court in June of 2015 in regards to spoliation in the State of Georgia.
- Illinois House Votes to Eliminate Red Light Cameras, But Not in ChicagoOn April 22, the Illinois House passed a measure that would eliminate red light cameras in about 35 communities, but not in Chicago.
- All Government Law Articles
Articles written by attorneys and experts worldwide discussing legal aspects related to Government including: administrative law, case law, election and political law, federal law, government contracts, local, municipal and state law, military law, public law, regulatory law, US federal courts.
Government Law - US
- ABA - State and Local Government Law Section
The ABA Section of State and Local Government Law is the premier association for lawyers involved in urban, state, and local government law and policy. Lawyers representing countless government agencies from across the country turn to the ABA Section of State and Local Government Law to access the latest expert information on issues that relate to their practice and share ideas and best practices with colleagues.
- The U.S. Constitution
The U.S. Constitution establishes a federal government in which each branch operates independently of the others (separation of powers) but in which the powers of each are restricted by the others and power is not concentrated in any one branch (checks and balances).
- U.S. Federal Executive Branch
The executive branch of the government is responsible for enforcing the laws of the land. The president, vice president, department heads (cabinet members), and heads of independent agencies carry out this mission.
- U.S. Federal Judicial Branch
Courts decide arguments about the meaning of laws and how they are applied. They also decide if laws violate the Constitution—this is known as judicial review, and it is how federal courts provide checks and balances on the legislative and executive branches.
- U.S. Federal Legislative Branch
Article I of the Constitution establishes the legislative or law making branch of government. It has a two-branch Congress—the Senate and the House of Representatives—and agencies that support Congress.
- Unites States House of Representative
The chief function of Congress is the making of laws. The legislative process comprises a number of steps, and much information is available from this page concerning the legislation introduced and considered in the 111th Congress.
As the U.S. government's official web portal, USA.gov makes it easy for the public to get U.S. government information and services on the web. USA.gov also serves as the catalyst for a growing electronic government. In June 2000, President Clinton announced the gift from the Federal Search Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by Brewer, and instructed that an official U.S. web portal be launched within 90 days.
Organizations Related to Government Law
- Department of Justice - Enforcement of Government Law
Mission: To enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.
- G8 Information Center
Since 1975, the heads of state or government of the major industrial democracies have been meeting annually to deal with the major economic and political issues facing their domestic societies and the international community as a whole. The six countries at the first summit, held at Rambouillet, France, in November 1975, were France, the United States, Britain, Germany, Japan and Italy (sometimes referred to as the G6). They were joined by Canada at the San Juan Summit of 1976 in Puerto Rico, and by the European Community at the London Summit of 1977.
- The United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights. Due to its unique international character, and the powers vested in its founding Charter, the Organization can take action on a wide range of issues, and provide a forum for its 192 Member States to express their views, through the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and other bodies and committees.
Publications Related to Government Law
- Blogs - America.gov
Blogs at America.gov offers readers a place to discuss designated topics with experts from the United States and around the world, and to share their comments and reactions with the broader Internet public.
- Government Law Online
Welcome to Government Law Online, a clearinghouse service of the Government Law Center of Albany Law School. This site contains a collection of government law and public policy articles, studies, papers, and reports written by the faculty, staff, and students of Albany Law School. This site also contains reports, papers, transcripts and materials from Government Law Center programs.
- How Our Laws Are Made
First published in 1953 by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, this 24th edition of ''How Our Laws Are Made'' reflects changes in congressional procedures since the 23rd edition, which was revised and updated in 2003. This edition was prepared by the Office of the Parliamentarian of the U.S. House of Representatives in consultation with the Office of the Parliamentarian of the U.S. Senate.
- Library of Congress - Law Library
Congress established its Law Library in 1832, recognizing its need for ready access to reliable legal materials. The Law Library has grown over the years to