The Sources of America's Laws Essay

Total Length: 1435 words ( 5 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 4

Page 1 of 5

Sources of U.S. LawIntroductionToday, most Americans are rightfully proud of the fact that the United States is a land of laws, but many may not realize the multiple sources of the laws that routinely affect their daily lives (Lupu, 2013). To help address this constraint, the purpose of this paper is to provide a description of the major sources of law under the American system of jurisprudence and how these different sources of law either complement or conflict with one another. In addition, a hypothetical vignette that describes a potential conflict between federal and state law concerning the possession of medical cannabis products in Idaho is followed by a summary of the research and important findings concerning these issues in the paper’s conclusion.Major Sources of LawFar and away, the major source of law in the United States is the Constitution from whence all other laws, policies and regulations flow. In this regard, the Chicago Council of Lawyers (2022) emphasizes that, “The U.S. founders learned from King George and others like him that they wanted and needed a country governed by the rule of laws, not of men. The Rule of Law in the United States does not begin with the President. It does not begin with any political party. It begins with our Constitution” (The United States is a nation ruled by laws, not kings, 2022, para. 4). Likewise, state constitutions are also a primary source of law across the country.
In addition, another prime source of laws in the United States is natural laws which are discussed below.One of the other major sources of law in the United States today is natural law. The definition provided by Black’s Law Dictionary (1990) notes that the term “natural laws” is used to “denote a system of rules and principles for the guidance of human conduct which [are] independent of an active law or the systems peculiar to any one people” (p. 1026). In other words, natural laws take priority over manmade laws when they conflict. In this regard, one legal authority points out that Rogers Williams, the founder of Providence Plantations (which would later become Rhode Island), maintained that “all political acts, which are not in accord with the natural law are merely acts of violence” (as cited in Higdon, 2021, p. 85). In reality, many natural laws, such as the fundamental right to self-defense and the religious liberty, have long been formally codified into American jurisprudence (Higdon, 2021).Other major sources of American law include administrative laws such as rules, regulations, directives or orders which are promulgated by the executive branch of the federal government (Sources of law, 2022). Executive orders and directives are issued by the U.S. president while rules and regulations are made by federal administrative agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (.....

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"The Sources Of America's Laws" (2022, January 16) Retrieved May 3, 2024, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/sources-america-laws-2177033

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"The Sources Of America's Laws" 16 January 2022. Web.3 May. 2024. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/sources-america-laws-2177033>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"The Sources Of America's Laws", 16 January 2022, Accessed.3 May. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/sources-america-laws-2177033