Wisconsin State Law Library

Questions? Ask a Librarian

Introduction to Law

Law comes from the three branches of government.

• Statutory Law is created by the Legislative Branch.
  • WI Statutes are a topical arrangement of acts passed by the WI Legislature.
  • United States Code is a topical arrangement of acts passed by the U.S. Congress.

• Administrative Law is created by the Executive Branch
  • WI Administrative Code are regulations made by state agencies.
  • Code of Federal Regulations are regulations made by federal agencies.

• Case Law is created by the Judicial Branch
  • Courts interpret and apply the law to resolve disputes 
    • WI Supreme Court
    • WI Court of Appeals
      
    • U.S. Federal Courts

• Constitutional Law
  
  • Establishes governmental powers and civil liberties.
    
    • U.S. Constitution
      
    • WI Constitution

• Ordinances
  
  • Local governments may have ordinances which govern that municipality.

How Laws are Made

• Statutory Law
  • Wisconsin
    
    • Legislative Process in Wisconsin (WI LRB)
      
  • Federal
    
    • From a Bill to a Law (Congress.gov)
      

How Government Works

• Wisconsin
  • Framework of Wisconsin Government
    Formation & role of state government from territory to statehood. Discussion of local government bodies.  Includes chart of state government.
  • Wisconsin Blue Book
    Profiles of the three branches of government, information about each of the state agencies, and overview of the political & electoral process.
  • The Wisconsin Court System: Demystifying the Judicial Branch

• Federal
  
  • United States Government Manual
    Information about the federal executive, legislative & judicial branches.  Includes organizational charts.

CLE Classes

• Check out our latest library class offerings