Scope

The United States is a republic composed on 50 sovereign states governed by the U.S Constitution.

At the federal level (although the process is generally similar at the state level as well), there takes an act of Congress (the House of Representatives and the Senate; Legislative branch) to pass laws. Bills are introduced in the House and the Senate . Usually the bills are very similar or the two chambers will conference and come up with a similar bill. If passed, the bill moves to the President (Executive branch). If the President approves, he or she will sign the bill, which then goes into effect as law and becomes part of the U.S. Code. The government agencies (Executive branch) then are authorized to interpret that act of Congress. They refer to the debate that occurred in congressional committee as they  determine the intent of Congress and write the Code of Federal Regulations. Thus,  there can be some differences between what Congress intended, what was published in the U.S. Code (i.e., law), and what finally becomes published in the Code of Federal Regulations (i.e., rules).  

The rules, derived from the law, are enforced by federal employees. 

Integral is the practical impact of the Commerce Clause (Article 1 Section 8 Clause 3). 

Some of the key environmental laws have been extensively litigated.

This page was last updated 03 September 2023.