Criminal law determines what acts you can be imprisoned or fined for by the government. Most criminal acts require some sort of bad or evil intent. If it's a criminal law, it will be enforced by a prosecutor working for the state or federal government.
Civil law is mostly common law and case law (not statutes) that determine rights as between citizens. These are the laws that determine who can sue whom for damages when one person wrongs another. The government does not get involved, except to the extent that it provides courts and judges.
Administrative law determines what government agencies may do. The state or federal government has law making power, some of which they can delegate to agencies in setting the particulars. The president and governors can do this to some extent too. Admin. law tells us what can be delegated to agencies, what those agencies can do, and how you as a private citizen can challenge agency decisions through the courts.
Constitutional law examines the federal or state constitutions. Constitutions set limits on what the government can do. Laws that exceed those limits are unconstitutional and can be altered or struck down by the courts.
International law is a bit of a misnomer because there is no international body that can override the sovereignty of a nation, but essentially international law refers to the web of treaties that various nations have with each other and abide by (usually). The Geneva Convention, the Hague Convention and the World Trade Organization are all examples.
Civil law is mostly common law and case law (not statutes) that determine rights as between citizens. These are the laws that determine who can sue whom for damages when one person wrongs another. The government does not get involved, except to the extent that it provides courts and judges.
Administrative law determines what government agencies may do. The state or federal government has law making power, some of which they can delegate to agencies in setting the particulars. The president and governors can do this to some extent too. Admin. law tells us what can be delegated to agencies, what those agencies can do, and how you as a private citizen can challenge agency decisions through the courts.
Constitutional law examines the federal or state constitutions. Constitutions set limits on what the government can do. Laws that exceed those limits are unconstitutional and can be altered or struck down by the courts.
International law is a bit of a misnomer because there is no international body that can override the sovereignty of a nation, but essentially international law refers to the web of treaties that various nations have with each other and abide by (usually). The Geneva Convention, the Hague Convention and the World Trade Organization are all examples.