Government Law






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What is Government Law? This topic covers a broad area in the legal field. U.S. Federal Government Law addresses government interactions on a national scale, and is largely composed of administrative law and constitutional law. While State and Local Government Law (state and municipal government law) deals largely with how government operates on the state and local level, with state and city governments and agencies, as well as interactions with businesses and private citizens.

The U.S. Federal Government is composed of three branches: the legislative branch creates law; the judicial branch interprets the law; and the executive branch administers, or “executes” the law. This government is established by the U.S. Constitution.

The Federal Government shares control of the United Sates with individual U.S. State governments. State governments are made up of their own legislative, judicial and executive branches and are given a fair share of autonomy to create laws for their individual states, although federal law holds precedence. State law also establishes and regulates local government for cities, towns, counties, and other communities.

Local Government Law addresses a variety of issues, topics and legal areas. These include, but are not limited to, the following: Sunshine laws for public access to government records and processes; municipal planning for land use and zoning law; licensing and regulatory law; labor rights, discrimination, wage laws and FLSA, FMLA, ADA and more with regards to employment and personnel law for government workers and employers; utilities and telecommunication law for government entities such as gas, water & electric companies, cell phone towers and easements; property taxes, assessments, user fees and other taxation law for city revenues; eminent domain law; environmental law as it applies to government regulations; HRA’s and other housing agencies for development, redevelopment and affordable housing issues; tax abatements and other forms of public finance; and government contracts.

Additionally, there is Tribal Government law. This involves Native American tribes and the powers and authority granted to them as members of various Indian nations, tribes, bands, etc. Tribal Government law deals with the individual tribal governments, rules and laws, as well as their interactions with the U.S. Federal government and state governments. Copyright HG.org

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Government Law - US

  • ABA - State and Local Government Law Section

    The ABA Section of State and Local Government Law is the premier association for lawyers involved in urban, state, and local government law and policy. Lawyers representing countless government agencies from across the country turn to the ABA Section of State and Local Government Law to access the latest expert information on issues that relate to their practice and share ideas and best practices with colleagues.

  • The U.S. Constitution

    The U.S. Constitution establishes a federal government in which each branch operates independently of the others (separation of powers) but in which the powers of each are restricted by the others and power is not concentrated in any one branch (checks and balances).

  • U.S. Federal Executive Branch

    The executive branch of the government is responsible for enforcing the laws of the land. The president, vice president, department heads (cabinet members), and heads of independent agencies carry out this mission.

  • U.S. Federal Judicial Branch

    Courts decide arguments about the meaning of laws and how they are applied. They also decide if laws violate the Constitution—this is known as judicial review, and it is how federal courts provide checks and balances on the legislative and executive branches.

  • U.S. Federal Legislative Branch

    Article I of the Constitution establishes the legislative or law making branch of government. It has a two-branch Congress—the Senate and the House of Representatives—and agencies that support Congress.

  • Unites States House of Representative

    The chief function of Congress is the making of laws. The legislative process comprises a number of steps, and much information is available from this page concerning the legislation introduced and considered in the 111th Congress.

  • USA.gov

    As the U.S. government's official web portal, USA.gov makes it easy for the public to get U.S. government information and services on the web. USA.gov also serves as the catalyst for a growing electronic government. In June 2000, President Clinton announced the gift from the Federal Search Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by Brewer, and instructed that an official U.S. web portal be launched within 90 days.

Organizations Related to Government Law

  • Department of Justice - Enforcement of Government Law

    Mission: To enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.

  • G8 Information Center

    Since 1975, the heads of state or government of the major industrial democracies have been meeting annually to deal with the major economic and political issues facing their domestic societies and the international community as a whole. The six countries at the first summit, held at Rambouillet, France, in November 1975, were France, the United States, Britain, Germany, Japan and Italy (sometimes referred to as the G6). They were joined by Canada at the San Juan Summit of 1976 in Puerto Rico, and by the European Community at the London Summit of 1977.

  • The United Nations

    The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights. Due to its unique international character, and the powers vested in its founding Charter, the Organization can take action on a wide range of issues, and provide a forum for its 192 Member States to express their views, through the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and other bodies and committees.

Publications Related to Government Law

  • Blogs - America.gov

    Blogs at America.gov offers readers a place to discuss designated topics with experts from the United States and around the world, and to share their comments and reactions with the broader Internet public.

  • Government Law Online

    Welcome to Government Law Online, a clearinghouse service of the Government Law Center of Albany Law School. This site contains a collection of government law and public policy articles, studies, papers, and reports written by the faculty, staff, and students of Albany Law School. This site also contains reports, papers, transcripts and materials from Government Law Center programs.

  • How Our Laws Are Made

    First published in 1953 by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, this 24th edition of ''How Our Laws Are Made'' reflects changes in congressional procedures since the 23rd edition, which was revised and updated in 2003. This edition was prepared by the Office of the Parliamentarian of the U.S. House of Representatives in consultation with the Office of the Parliamentarian of the U.S. Senate.

  • Library of Congress - Law Library

    Congress established its Law Library in 1832, recognizing its need for ready access to reliable legal materials. The Law Library has grown over the years to

Articles on HG.org Related to Government Law

  • The Fallout of Arthur Andersen and Enron on the Legal Landscape of American Accounting
    It may have been a decade ago, but the fallout of the accounting scandals of the late 1990's and early 2000's continue to resonate through both of the accounting and legal professions. The largely self-regulated accounting profession has enacted numerous changes that continue to evolve in response to the scandals and pressure from government agencies and the public.
  • Untested Nature of Carbon Capture May Present Loophole for Coal and Electric Industry
    The Obama administration has been cracking down on environmental regulations, particularly with regard to global warming. Faced with this increased pressure, the coal and electric industries are applying a new legal strategy they believe will allow them to take advantage of a loophole and prevent most EPA enforcement measures.
  • Detroit's Casino Tax Dollars Become Issue in City's Bankruptcy
    Detroit was one of the most heavily hit cities during the recent economic downturn. Although it has started to rebound, based in large part upon federal subsidies provided by the Obama Administration which many credit with saving the American auto industry, the city continues to deal with financial woes as it struggles through the larges Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy in US history.
  • Native American Woman Nominated to Federal Bench
    On September 19, President Barack Obama announced that Diane J. Humetewa was a nominee for the US District Court for Arizona. The nomination was made in response to widespread requests for representation on the federal bench of Native American interests.
  • Is It Illegal to Own a Machine Gun? Not if You Are a Business Entity
    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (commonly known as the “ATF”) is responsible for regulating guns in the United States. A current loophole allows individuals to obtain weapons such as machine guns and sawed-off shotguns through corporations, trusts or other legal entities.
  • Truth in Advertising and Marketing and Other FTC Regulations
    When consumers see or hear an advertisement on the Internet, radio, in print, on a billboard, on television, or anywhere else, federal law says that the ad must be truthful, not misleading, and, when appropriate, backed by scientific evidence.
  • Case of Baby Veronica Is a Primer on Not Just Adoption Law, but Native American Affairs
    So-Called Baby Veronica is now four years old, and has already been the subject of a case that has traveled all the way to the US Supreme Court and back down through several state courts. The case is a twisting tangle of different legal principles intermingled with social policies, making for a great primer on both adoption laws and Native American affairs.
  • Encrypted Email Service Begins Appeal of Surveillance Order in Wake of Revelation of Government Surveillance
    Lavabit, a company that offers encrypted email services to its customers, has formally appealed the secret surveillance order that led it to close its business last month, but the case was immediately placed under seal in the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.
  • When Public Services Fail How Do You Get Relief?
    We have all heard the saying that you cannot fight city hall. But, what do you do when a public service like electricity, water, sewage, or trash pick up breaks down and nobody does anything to fix it? Who do you pursue and how?
  • Jurisdiction Issues Raised in Child Sex Trafficking Case
    In September, 2013, a man from Missouri was charged with child sex trafficking in the case of a developmentally delayed girl from Massachusetts who disappeared a few days before week and was later found safe in Rhode Island. Cases such as these raise a number of questions, including which state has jurisdiction, which laws apply, and what can be done.
  • All Government Law Articles

    Articles written by attorneys and experts worldwide discussing legal aspects related to Government including: administrative law, case law, election and political law, federal law, government contracts, local, municipal and state law, military law, public law, regulatory law, US federal courts.