An Farnsworth, E. Allan, (Edward Allan) 1928-2005 creator Sheppard, Steve 1963- text bibliography enk Oxford New York Oxford University Press 2010 4th ed. monographic eng xx, 227 pages ; 24 cm. The book explains the foundations of the U.S. legal system, including: the Constitution and structure of government, federal and state courts, sources of law such as statutes and judicial decisions, civil and criminal procedure, and the role of lawyers and judges. A central theme is that U.S. law depends heavily on court precedent and judicial interpretation, not just written legislation. The author shows how courts, legislatures, and administrative agencies interact to create and enforce law. The book is designed for beginners—especially international students and non-lawyers—and focuses on giving readers a practical understanding of how legal disputes are handled in the United States. Historical background -- Legal education -- Legal profession -- The judicial system -- Case law -- The legislative system -- Statutes -- Secondary authority -- Classification -- Procedure -- Private law -- Public law. E. Allan Farnsworth ; edited by Steve Sheppard. Includes bibliographical references and index. n-us--- Law United States KF387 .F236i 2010 349.73 9780199733101 0199733104 2009053017 DLC 091217 20260518170913.0 16025602 eng