There are various sources of law in Texas.
Federal Law
- Constitutional law
- U.S. Constitution, including amendments
- Federal court interpretations of constitutional provisions
- Statutory law
- Laws passed by the U.S. Congress
- Administrative law
- Federal bureaucratic agency rules and regulations
State Law
- Constitutional law
- Texas Constitution, including amendments
- State court interpretations of constitutional provisions
- Statutory law
- Laws passed by the Texas legislature
- Administrative law
- State bureaucratic agency rules and regulations
- Local codes and ordinances
- Laws passed by cities and counties
The U.S. Constitution states that federal laws are higher than state laws within the legal hierarchy (Supremacy Clause, U.S. Constitution). Similarly, the Texas Constitution states that state laws (constitutional law, statutory law, and administrative law) are higher than local codes and ordinances within the legal hierarchy.
Within both the federal and state legal systems, constitutional law is considered the foundation of government and, as such, is viewed as higher than statutory laws created by the legislature under their constitutional authority. Statutory law is viewed as higher than administrative law, because legislatures create and delegate authority to bureaucratic agencies.
