What are the various sources of American law? Discuss how these various laws interrelate to form the system of law in the United States.

The sources of American law include the U.S. Constitution and the constitutions of the various states; judicial decisions in precedent-setting cases, the common law that has developed over centuries; statutes passed by Congress and by state legislatures; ordinances passed by local legislative bodies, such as city councils; treaties; interstate compacts; executive orders; and administrative rules or regulations adopted by federal and state administrative agencies. The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and federal statutes and treaties are paramount to state constitutions and statutes.