Updated in a new 7th edition american law and legal systems examines the philosophy of law within a political social and economic framework with great clarity and insight readers are introduced to operative legal concepts everyday law practices substantive procedures and the intricacies of the american legal system. American law and legal systems examines the philosophy of law within a political social and economic framework with great clarity and insight readers are introduced to operative legal concepts everyday law practices substantive procedures and the intricacies of the american legal system. The american legal system is based on a system of federalism or decentralization while the national or federal government itself possesses significant powers the individual states retain powers not specifically enumerated as exclusively federal most states have court systems which mirror that of the federal court system 7. American law and legal systems examines the philosophy of law within a political social and economic framework with great clarity and insightreaders are introduced to operative legal concepts everyday law practices substantive procedures and the intricacies of the american legal system