government

Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war. The President, meanwhile, derives the power to direct the military after a Congressional declaration of war from Article II, Section 2, which names the President Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

Federalism is a system of government in which the same territory is controlled by two levels of government. Generally, an overarching national government governs issues that affect the entire country, and smaller subdivisions govern issues of local concern. Both the national government and the smaller political subdivisions have the power to make laws and both have a certain level of autonomy from each other. The United States has a federal system of governance consisting of the national or federal government, and the government of the individual states.

government contracts law: an overview

The federal government is, by far, the largest contractor in the United States. It mainly contracts for consumer products (toothpaste, milk), services (contractor services, consulting agencies), and military products (stealth bombers, guns). Three characteristics set government spending apart from private spending. First, government contracts are heavily regulated to curb misappropriation of funds and ensure uniform policies and practices across agencies. Second, the contract terms are the product of careful drafting by teams of government attorneys and have often received distinct meaning through past contract adjudications. This means that a private concern contracting with the government is well advised to consult with an attorney knowledgeable about government contracts any time issues arise. And third, because of the government's special status disputes under government contracts follow a very different procedural path than those arising under private contracts.

International trade law: an overview

International trade is “the exchange of goods [or] services” “between nations.” Black’s Law Dictionary 285, 1529 (8th ed. 2004).

legislation: an overview

Legislation refers to the preparation and enactment of laws by a legislative body through its lawmaking process. The legislative process includes evaluating, amending, and voting on proposed laws and is concerned with the words used in the bill to communicate the values, judgments, and purposes of the proposal. An idea becomes an item of legislative business when it is written as a bill. A bill is a draft, or tentative version, of what might become part of the written law. A bill that is enacted is called an act or statute.

local government law: an overview

Local governments, those which govern cities, villages, counties, and towns, are established and regulated by state law. Their authority in relation to other units of local government and in relation to state government rests ultimately on state law. The procedures by which their governing bodies are elected and their framework of governance rests on state law as well.

communications law: an overview

Communications law is concerned with the regulation of radio and TV broadcasting to ensure satisfactory service and to prevent chaos. The federal government has largely governed broadcasting because by its nature broadcasting transcends state boundaries.

constitutional law: an overview

The broad topic of constitutional law deals with the interpretation and implementation of the United States Constitution. As the Constitution is the foundation of the United States, constitutional law deals with some of the fundamental relationships within our society. This includes relationships among the states, the states and the federal government, the three branches (executive, legislative, judicial) of the federal government, and the rights of the individual in relation to both federal and state government. The area of judicial review is an important subject within Constitutional Law.  The Supreme Court has played a crucial role in interpreting the Constitution. Consequently, study of Constitutional Law focuses heavily on Supreme Court rulings.

election law: an overview

Citizens make choices by voting in elections. Two types of elections exist: general elections and special elections. A general election occurs at a regularly scheduled interval as mandated by law. A special election would be held when something arises that does not arise on a regular basis or routine. For instance, if an elected-office suddenly becomes vacant or a legislature wants to put a referendum before the voters, then they can use a special election.

American Indian law: an overview

In U.S. law the term "Indians" refers generally to the indigenous peoples of the continent at the time of European colonization. "Alaska Natives" and "Native Hawaiians" refer to peoples indigenous to the areas occupied by those named states. The terms "tribe" or "band" designate a group of Indians of the same or similar heritage united in a community under one leadership or government and inhabiting a particular territory. Because Indians have increasingly preferred "nation" or "people," the term "tribe" has become controversial. The terms used may vary from statute to statute and case to case as well.