Federal-law meaning

A body of law at the highest or national level of a federal government, consisting of a constitution, enacted laws and the court decisions pertaining to them. The federal law of the United States consists of the United States Constitution, laws enacted by Congress, and decisions of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
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Some laws are made at the federal level and some laws are made by the states. For example, laws on commerce, bankruptcy or taxation are made at the federal level. State and local governments pass laws about property, divorce, custody, and other matters that really don't affect anyone outside of that state. The U.S. Constitution limits the lawmaking of the federal government to laws that stem from the "commerce clause" which gives the federal government the power to regulate anything having to do with "interstate" commerce or commerce across state lines. For example, federal laws can be made that.

Regulate "interstate" commerce, which is commerce across state lines.

Regulate how financial transactions are made and how bankruptcy can be granted.

Protect consumers such as product safety.

Protect the civil rights such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Regulate income taxes, as allowed with the 16th Amendment.

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Sentence Examples

  • There is no appeal from the highest state court, except in those cases where a question of Federal law is involved, for then such cases may be removed, in manner to be explained hereafter, to the Federal courts.

  • The jurisdiction of the Federal courts extends only to those cases in which the Constitution makes Federal law applicable.

  • All other cases are left to the state courts, from which there is no appeal to the Federal courts, unless where some specific point arises which is affected by the Federal Constitution or a Federal law.

  • As it frequently happens that cases come before state courts in which questions of Federal law arise, a provision has been made whereby due respect for the latter is secured by giving the party to a suit who relies upon Federal law, and whose contention is overruled by a state court, the right of having the suit removed to a Federal court.

  • If the decision of the state court is in favor of the right claimed under Federal law or against the validity or applicability of the state law set up, there is no ground for appeal, because the applicability or authority of Federal law in the particular case could receive no further protection from a Federal court than has in fact been given by the state court.

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