What is the difference between constitutional and statutory law?
Constitutional law and statutory law are two distinct types of laws that are created and enforced in the United States. Constitutional law is based on the Constitution of the United States, which is the foundation of the U.S. government. Constitutional law is designed to protect the rights and freedoms of the people it covers. Statutory law is created by Congress and is passed by the state legislature. Statutory law is typically created to regulate the behavior of the public and provides specific penalties for violations. In Texas, statutory law is found in the Texas Statutes, which are the laws created by the Texas Legislature to address different topics. The main difference between constitutional and statutory law is that constitutional law is designed to protect the rights of citizens, while statutory law is designed to create rules that govern behavior. Constitutional law is higher in authority than statutory law, so if there is a disagreement between the two, constitutional law will take precedence. This is important because the United States Constitution is the highest law of the land and must be followed by all citizens regardless of the other laws that are passed. This is why the U.S. Supreme Court is the ultimate arbiter when it comes to determining the constitutionality of laws and policies. It is also why the U.S. Constitution is the basis for all laws that are passed in the United States.
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