Entry
Entries A-Z
Public Law
Law that pertains to the following areas: (a) the relationship between private citizens and the state; (b) the organization, obligations, immunities, and powers of the state; and (c) the relationship between the state and foreign powers. Public law stands in contrast to private law, which only concerns relations between private individuals or corporations. Public law can be found in constitutional, administrative, criminal, and international law. The distinction between public and private law dates back to the Middle Ages; it was codified into the Corpus Juris Civilis (534 AD), the compilation of Roman Law issued under the order of the Roman (Byzantine) emperor Justinian I. Public law also refers to an act enacted by the state that applies to the general public. At the federal level, ...