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Speaking Points
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The term “law” is often used
to refer to the statutes that are enacted by the legislative branch, but in
fact there are four sources of “law”:
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1.The Constitution– the United States Constitution and that of each
state.
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2.Statutes- the legislative branch (the Maine Legislature and the U.S.
Congress) enacts laws that become part of the code of the state, and of the
United States, respectively. In Maine, the statutes are compiled into the
state code that is the Maine Revised Statutes.
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3.Regulations are the rules that are promulgated by executive branch
agencies, under the statutory authority granted to them by the legislative
branch. The Maine Department of Human Services makes rules under its duties
for the “general supervision of the interests of health and life of the
citizens of the State.” (22 M.R.S.A. 1 §3)
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4.Common Law refers to the law made by judges in courts. Remember the
relative roles of the three branches of government– the legislature enacts
laws, the executive branch implements and enforces them, and the judicial
branch interprets them. The interpretation of these laws and regulations
contribute to a common law.
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Similarly, the ordinances
that are enacted on the local level also have the force of law.
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