2. History of Law
Codify means to compile, arrange, systemize, and write the
laws of a given region into a code.
Civil law is the body of law imposed by the state or
government for its citizens.
Common law refers to the body of law based on custom and
judicial precedent rather than on codified statutes.
3. Sources of Law
Constitutional Law: consists of a body of rules created by
federal and state constitutions
› The United States Constitution: sets forth the three principal
branches of the federal government, outlines their jurisdictions, and
expresses the basic rights of U.S. citizens
› The Texas Constitution: supreme law of Texas and establishes the
fundamental legal rights of its citizens
Statutory Law: written law enacted by federal and state
legislative bodies
› Federal Laws: created by a process involving the Congress and the
U.S. president
› Texas Laws: codified into volumes called Vernon’s Annotated Texas
Statutes
4. Sources of Law (continued)
Administrative Law: written rules and regulations adopted by
governmental agencies to enable the agencies to carry out
their regulatory duties
› Municipal Ordinances: Once a state statute becomes law, ordinances
may be enacted by agencies at the local level.
Common Law: based on the decisions of judges in previous
cases
Categories of Law
Civil Law: deals with private offenses, such as violations of
contracts and failure of professional duty
› Areas of Law
Criminal Law: concerns wrongs against persons or society
5. Court Structure of Texas
Texas has one of the most complex court systems in the
country, with five levels of courts.
Legal Remedies
Litigation
› process of bringing a lawsuit against someone
Alternative Dispute Resolution
› Mediation: process in which a neutral, uninterested third party helps
the parties involved in a dispute to negotiate a settlement or other
resolution
› Arbitration: process in which the parties (and/or their attorneys)
present their cases to an arbitrator, who renders a decision
