Who make the law in United States?

Answer 1

There are Federal Laws that are created by the US Legislature that cover the entire US.

State laws are made by the State legislature and are in effect for only that state.

County or borough laws are passed by their policy making group, and even individual cities have city ordinances or laws that are created by the city council or similar body.

Answer 2

All three branches of government have the ability to make laws.

The Congressional branch can make laws through legislation.

• A member of either the House or Senate may introduce a bill and it must be approved by both. If similar but different bills are passed by the House and Senate, a conference committee will attempt to reconcile the differences and then both will vote on the same thing. Before it can be a law it must also be approved by the President or, if he does not sign the bill, the House and Senate can vote on it again and if they both pass it by a 2/3 majority it becomes law.

The Executive branch can make laws as when the president issues executive orders.

• Executive orders don't carry as much weight as congressional laws but they mean a lot more when Congress passes an executive order.

The Judicial Branch can make laws through the precedent of Marbury vs. Madison. The precedent allowed the court systems the power to declare acts of the state, legislative, and executive branches of the federal government null and void if they violate the Constitution. Two different thought ways of thinking about the courts making laws.

• Judicial Activism- Belief the courts should actively use their own judgement to interpret or create laws to correct wrongs that have not be corrected in the system on issues such as civil rights, individual rights, etc.

  Examples: Roe v Wade (abortion), Brown v Board of Education of Topeka (civil rights), Planned Parenthood v Casey (contraceptive rights), etc.

• Judicial Restraint- Belief the courts should interpret the laws as they are exactly written and not engage in policy making. Often they will say that it is a political question to be resolved by the President or Congress.

  Examples: Luther v. Borden (legitimacy of local government), Bush v. Gore (election dispute), District of Columbia v. Heller (gun rights), etc.

Answer 3

There are several groups that can make laws in the US.

The Congress of the US makes laws that are in effect all over the country.

State legislatures can make laws that cover a whole state.

Counties and Boroughs do not have legislatures but they have the power to pass laws within their areas.

Finally, cities and townships within counties and boroughs can pass laws for their communities.

Answer 4

The Legislative branch makes the laws, The Judicial branch interprets laws, and the Executive branch carries out the laws.

Answer 5

The three branches