The body of law dealing with the relations between private individuals and the government, and with the structure and operation of the government itself; constitutional law, criminal law, and administrative law taken together.... Federal public laws are first published in Statutes at Large and are eventually collected by subject in the U.S. Code. ( Black's Law Dictionary. 7th edition. Bryan A. Garner, editor-in-chief. St. Paul, Minn.: West Group; 1999.) Back
A bill or joint resolution passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate in identical form that has been enacted into law. Public laws affect the entire nation. A Public law is designated by the abbreviation "Pub. L." followed by the Congress number (e.g. 108), and the number of the law. For example: Pub. L. 108-211.
A bill or joint resolution (other than for amendments to the Constitution) passed by both Houses of Congress and approved by the President. Bills and joint resolutions vetoed by the President, but overridden by the Congress also become public law.
a law affecting the public at large
a common-law classification applied to all laws of which the courts take judicial notice, except private laws
a printing of the full text of a new law or an amendment to an existing law after it has been enacted by Congress and signed by the President
Branch of law dealing with the legal relationships between the state and individuals and with the relations among governmental agencies. See administrative law
Legislation enacted which governs the entire nation. Public laws are designated as "P.L." and numbered in sequence. For example P.L. 108-10 means the 10th law enacted by the 108th Congress.
A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both houses of Congress and been enacted into law, either by the President's signature or by passage over the President's veto. Public laws have general applicability nationwide. They are numbered according to the number of the Congress in which they were enacted, then consecutively in chronological order (for example, the first public law signed during the 109th Congress is Public Law 109-1). Public laws are published annually in Statutes at Large.
The relationships that individuals have with the state as a sovereign entity -- for example, the tax code, criminal laws, and Social Security legislation.
Constitutional and administrative law. It is not included in civil law codes.
That law such as traffic ordinances or zoning ordinances which applies to the public.
Laws regulating (1) how the government is structured and administrated; (2) how the government conducts itself in its relations with its citizens; (3) the responsibilities of government employees; and (4) the government's relationships with foreign governments. Criminal and constitutional law are both examples of public law. Private law is law which regulates the private conduct between individuals, without direct involvement of the government. The line between public and private law is sometimes very hard to draw. For example, an unsolicited attack on one's person would constitute a crime for which the government would prosecute under criminal law, which is public law. However, under private law it would also be a situation in which there would be a private legal action possible by the injured party under tort law.
Means of classification of laws passed by congress, e.p.P.L. 88-269 Library Services and construction Act 1964 is translated as a public law passed by the 88th Congress.
Those laws which regulate (1) the structure and administration of the government, (2) the conduct of the government in its relations with its citizens, (3) the responsibilities of government employees and (4) the relationships with foreign governments. Good examples are criminal and constitutional law. It can be distinguished from private law, which regulates the private conduct between individuals, without direct involvement of the government. For example, an unsolicited punch in the nose would constitute a crime for which the government would prosecute under criminal law but for which there would also be a private legal action possible by the injured party under tort law, which is private law although governments can be held responsible under tort law. As you can see, the line is often hard to draw between public and private law.
Public law is the law governing the relationship between individuals (citizens, companies) and the state. Constitutional law, administrative law and criminal law are sub-divisions of public law.