1. Constitution
Supreme Court of the US is final interpreter of the federal constitution
Federal statues are considered SUPREME LAW OF LAND
State Supreme court is the final authority of its state constitution
Both Federal and State constitutions are concerned primarily with defining and allocating certain powers in our society

2. Federal Constitution created Congress
State Constitutions created the state legislatures
Both are composed of elected representatives of the people
Acting for their citizens, these legislatures enact laws called STATUES
Example: Cigarette Warnings

3. States delegate some legislative authority to local governments = ORDINANCES
Federal, state and local legislatures create administrative agencies

4. Judicial branch creates CASE LAW
Usually made after a trial has ended and one of the parties has appealed the result to a higher court
Higher court makes a decision – this decision is then used for future cases of similarity
Creates case law

5. STARE DECISIS
Adhere to decided cases
United states is based on English Common law
Louisiana is the only state based on civil law

6. Three levels of government Executive Legislative Judicial
Procedural
Deals with methods of enforcing legal rights and duties
How and when an arrest is made
Substantive
Defines rights and duties
define the various degrees of murder

7. Which law prevails in the following situation?
#1 – A state statute conflicts with a state constitution
#2 – state constitution conflicts with federal constitution
#3 – a local ordinance conflicts with a state statute