Simple English definitions for legal terms
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The word federal is often used to talk about the United States Government. This includes the people who make laws, the people who enforce laws, and the people who decide if laws are fair. Federalism is when the government's power is divided between the national government and the state governments.
federal
The term federal refers to the United States Government, including its legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It also includes the laws, rules, and regulations created by these branches of government. The division of power between the federal government and state governments is called federalism.
These examples illustrate how the term federal is used to describe the United States Government and its laws and agencies. The FBI is a federal agency because it is part of the national government, not a state government. The Affordable Care Act is a federal law because it was passed by Congress and applies to all Americans, regardless of which state they live in. The Constitution is a federal document because it outlines the powers of the national government and the rights of individual states.