Law Studies Module 2 Notes
Levels of Government
On the local level, there are usually city and county ordinances. Some ordinances include "noise laws" that restrict the amount of noise allowed in a neighborhood, weight limits on vehicles on certain roads, and "leash laws" for pets when they are outside. Another increasingly common ordinance is the banning of skateboards and inline skates in public parking lots.
State laws have a wider impact than local ordinances. They set speed limits, define criminal acts, and regulate areas of life like car insurance, unemployment, welfare, and education. Some examples of state laws include high school graduation requirements, driver's licensing regulations, and seatbelt laws.
Federal laws cover all people who are citizens of the United States. They set federal tax rates and regulate international commerce, interstate trade, and healthcare. Some examples of federal laws include the legal voting age, anti-discrimination laws, and laws covering acts of treason.
At the federal level, the US has three branches of government involved in the lawmaking process—legislative, executive, and judicial. These three groups help create a more balanced government by providing checks on each other's powers. In other words, the system is set up so the president, or any other government official, can't enact any law on his or her own.
Legislative Branch- consists of 2 houses; the House of Representatives and the Senates. Each state id represented by two senators. Membership in the houses is based on population with the senators usually speaking for smaller districts within the state. Senators serve 6 year terms and representatives are elected every 2 years. Legislative Branch’s main purpose is to make laws. If the president veto’s a law passed by congress, a 2/3 vote in each house can override the president’s veto.
Senate
House of Representatives
Approves foreign treaties made by the president
Originates all bills that will raise money through taxes
Conducts trials for
On the local level, there are usually city and county ordinances. Some ordinances include "noise laws" that restrict the amount of noise allowed in a neighborhood, weight limits on vehicles on certain roads, and "leash laws" for pets when they are outside. Another increasingly common ordinance is the banning of skateboards and inline skates in public parking lots.
State laws have a wider impact than local ordinances. They set speed limits, define criminal acts, and regulate areas of life like car insurance, unemployment, welfare, and education. Some examples of state laws include high school graduation requirements, driver's licensing regulations, and seatbelt laws.
Federal laws cover all people who are citizens of the United States. They set federal tax rates and regulate international commerce, interstate trade, and healthcare. Some examples of federal laws include the legal voting age, anti-discrimination laws, and laws covering acts of treason.
At the federal level, the US has three branches of government involved in the lawmaking process—legislative, executive, and judicial. These three groups help create a more balanced government by providing checks on each other's powers. In other words, the system is set up so the president, or any other government official, can't enact any law on his or her own.
Legislative Branch- consists of 2 houses; the House of Representatives and the Senates. Each state id represented by two senators. Membership in the houses is based on population with the senators usually speaking for smaller districts within the state. Senators serve 6 year terms and representatives are elected every 2 years. Legislative Branch’s main purpose is to make laws. If the president veto’s a law passed by congress, a 2/3 vote in each house can override the president’s veto.
Senate
House of Representatives
Approves foreign treaties made by the president
Originates all bills that will raise money through taxes
Conducts trials for