In a constantly evolving field like the legal industry, it can be challenging to stay up-to-date on all of the latest laws and trends. This is especially true for law firms that provide a wide range of services to a number of different clients and industries.
New Laws
One of the most common ways to create new laws is through legislation. This happens when lawmakers introduce proposals and draft bills, which are formally introduced in Congress and assigned a number when they become Public Laws or Acts.
When a new law is passed, it can be listed in the Statutes at Large, a permanent collection of all laws enacted by Congress during each session of the legislature. The laws are often grouped by subject matter, such as civil rights, health and safety, or the environment.
Other sources of legislation include bills formally introduced by members of the House and Senate. These are numbered in the order that they are introduced and are labeled with a letter, such as H.R. (House of Representatives) or S. (Senate).
Many other types of proposals are also referred to as “legislative proposals” or just “legislation.” These bills deal with issues that affect the general public, such as the environment or education. These are formally introduced as public bills or joint resolutions and are usually assigned a PL number by NARA, which links to slip law texts after they’ve been published by the GPO.
Alternatively, ideas for new laws can come from a variety of sources, such as the executive branch or local governments. Those ideas are typically not formally enacted into law, but can be compiled and organized to become a “bill” or a “law.”
In the United States, most bills that make it through the legislative process go on to become Public Laws or Acts. These are enacted as a result of Congress’s approval and signed by the President.
These can be categorized into three main categories: constitutional, statutory and administrative law. These are all part of the federal government’s overall regulatory framework.
Some of these regulations are promulgated with the aid of delegated legislation, which are written regulations that can be enacted into law through the issuance of a special charter by the Governor or an ordinance by a City Council. Other regulatory frameworks are developed through the courts and agencies’ administrative rulings.
Another type of statute is an enabling law. These statutes are not enforceable by their own terms, but allow the executive branch or a local government to do certain things under certain circumstances.
For example, a city may enact laws to establish or change zoning. This could mean allowing for certain kinds of housing development or requiring certain activities, such as building roads.
Similarly, a state may enact laws to establish or change certain kinds of regulation, such as the rules that regulate medical professionals and hospitals. These can be compiled into the State’s Codes, Rules and Regulations or delegated legislation.