Introduction to Law

Lee Wright

LS100-03 Introduction to Law and Legal Profession

Organization and Structure of the American Legal System

Different Roles of Federal and State Government; Supremacy Claim & Conflict

Federalism in the US is a complex network of interfaces, between the national, state and local governments. Federalism requires that state and local governments participate in all policies. For example, worries about a health epidemic, state agencies and local hospitals work with the CDC and Federal Department of Health. State and local governments depend on the federal government for help with health related issues; when the federal government cuts programs, it affects government agencies on all levels. Fighting the war on terror/ism, the FBI, a federal agency needs the cooperation of state and local security agencies (state – airports, local – police) to join cooperate and work together. The federal system known as federalism, divides power between national and state and local governments. Under federalism, each level of government is independent and has its own power and responsibilities. Citizens are regulated by two system governments, federal and state, and each system maintains a separate legal system. Federal government has limited power overall, state governments regulate within state boundaries. States cannot contradict the federal government because the federal government’s power is controlled by the Constitution. Express Powers are delineated in the Constitution, and gives Congress the authority to make decisions (i.e. declare war, coin money, levy taxes, regulate interstate commerce). Laws that Congress originates, under these provisions are termed “implied powers.” Article VI of the Constitution declares that the Constitution and any laws passed under it form the “Supreme Law of the Land.” in a passage called the Supremacy Clause. This clause infers that, the national government has the authority over the state governments. The judges in every...