Which term denotes a body of principles and rules that are either explicitly stated in, or inferred from, the constitutions of the United States and those of the individual states?

• A. Laws
• B. Constitutional law
• C. Separation of powers
• D. Federalism

Answer: (A)

Constitutional law is the body of principles and rules derived from the U.S. and state constitutions, including what those texts explicitly state and what courts infer through interpretation. It governs how government power is allocated among branches, how individual rights are protected, and how the Constitution is applied to laws and government actions. This field covers both written provisions and the doctrines they generate through case law, providing the framework within which all other laws operate. Ordinary laws are statutes enacted by legislatures, while separation of powers and federalism are structural concepts within that constitutional framework describing how government authority is organized and shared.