I.Introduction:The American Legal System 1.The U.S.is a country of "rule of law"(not "rule by law").The differences between the two: a.in the former system,law is supreme and everybody is equal before law(including the government and government officials);while in the latter system,the government uses laws to rule but itself is above the law; b.laws in the former system are enacted through public consent;while in the latter system laws tend to be set up without public consent. 2.Levels of law in the U.S.:judicial federalism 1)Constitutional law 2)Federal law (or statute) 3)State and local law (or statute)I. Introduction: The American Legal System 1. The U.S. is a country of "rule of law" (not "rule by law"). The differences between the two: a. in the former system, law is supreme and everybody is equal before law (including the government and government officials); while in the latter system, the government uses laws to rule but itself is above the law; b. laws in the former system are enacted through public consent; while in the latter system laws tend to be set up without public consent. 2. Levels of law in the U.S.: judicial federalism 1) Constitutional law 2) Federal law (or statute) 3) State and local law (or statute)