Primary Sources: These are the actual laws themselves, and have the force of law.
* Constitutions: Fundamental laws of a country or state, establishing the basic framework of government and defining citizens' rights and responsibilities.
* Statutes (Legislation): Laws passed by legislative bodies (e.g., Congress, Parliament, state legislatures). These are often codified into statutes or codes.
* Regulations: Rules and regulations created by administrative agencies (e.g., Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Communications Commission) to implement and enforce statutes. These have the force of law.
* Case Law (Common Law): Judicial decisions that create precedents for future cases. In common law systems, judges' interpretations of statutes and application of legal principles become binding on lower courts (stare decisis).
* Treaties and International Agreements: Agreements between nations that become legally binding. In many countries, ratified treaties become part of domestic law.
* Executive Orders: Directives issued by the chief executive (e.g., President, Governor) that have the force of law within the executive branch's sphere of authority. The extent of their power varies by jurisdiction.
Secondary Sources: These are not laws themselves but provide analysis and interpretation of primary sources. They are persuasive, but not legally binding.
* Legal Treatises: Scholarly works providing detailed analysis of specific areas of law.
* Law Review Articles: Articles written by legal scholars published in academic journals.
* Restatements of Law: Summaries and analyses of common law rules prepared by the American Law Institute, aiming to clarify and harmonize the law.
* Legal Encyclopedias: Comprehensive summaries of legal rules organized by subject.
* Legal Dictionaries: Define legal terms.
It's crucial to distinguish between primary and secondary sources. Only primary sources have the force of law; secondary sources offer guidance and analysis but cannot dictate legal outcomes. The relative weight and authority of each source can also vary depending on the specific legal system and context.