Federal law is legislation enacted at the national level and applies to the entire United States, including all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. The foundation of federal law is the U.S. Constitution, which establishes the powers and responsibilities of the government and safeguards the fundamental rights of every citizen.
Federal laws are composed of bills that have undergone the legislative process, including passage by both houses of Congress, approval by the president, override of a presidential veto, or allowance to become law without the president’s signature.
These laws, individually, are known as acts, and they are categorized in the United States Code by subject matter.
Regulations, on the other hand, are rules created by executive departments and agencies, and they are organized in the Code of Federal Regulations by subject.