What is a law?

The term “law” is broad and refers to a wide set of government rules and regulations at the federal, state, and local levels. There are many different sources of law created by a variety of government officials.

When someone refers to "the law,” they could be referring to any of the following: a statute passed by a state legislature, an executive order issued by a governor or president, opinions written by judges in court cases, an administrative regulation issued by a government agency, a city or county ordinance, or even a building code requirement.

Laws govern many different aspects of life, including employment, property, business, and more.

These aspects may be governed by a combination of state, federal, and local laws. For instance, a beekeeper in Dallas may need to follow city ordinances that regulate animals, Texas statutes that govern the keeping of bees, and regulations from the Texas Apiary Inspection Service.

A judge presiding over court case may review statutes as well as what judges have said in previous court cases about the issue.

Only a lawyer can determine which laws are applicable to your situation. However, librarians can help you locate various sources of law and resources that help explain the law.