public law

American  

noun

1. Also called public statute.  Also called public act,.  a law or statute of a general character that applies to the people of a whole state or nation.

2. a branch of law dealing with the legal relationships between the state and individuals and with the relations among governmental agencies.

3. public international law.

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public law British  

noun

1. a law that applies to the public of a state or nation

2. the branch of law that deals with relations between a state and its individual members Compare private law

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Etymology

Origin of public law

First recorded in 1765–75

Compare meaning

How does public-law compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• public law vs. private law

Example Sentences

This act, also known as Public Law 111-80, gave the U.S.

From Salon • Dec. 27, 2023

The Afghan families' solicitor, Daniel Rourke, from the Public Law Project, said he was hopeful his clients would win the case and be allowed to return to south London.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2023

In 1954, President Eisenhower signed Public Law 588, which terminated many tribes and bands of Indians in western Oregon.

From New York Times • Sep. 9, 2022

Dennis Aftergut is a former federal prosecutor, currently of counsel at the Renne Public Law Group in San Francisco.

From Washington Post • Jul. 6, 2021

It seems that there is the matter of impersonation, of violating some of the clauses in Public Law 1182.

From Voyage To Eternity by Marlowe, Stephen