Year 12 Legal Studies | Fun Learning Quest for Kids

You're reading a news article about a new federal law that overrides a state law on industrial relations. Which constitutional principle is directly at play here, and why does it matter for your understanding of where legal power truly lies?

When you slip on a wet floor in a shopping centre, you sue for negligence. The shopkeeper argues that the 'wet floor' sign was up before you fell. In civil law, what is the legal principle that determines whether the shopkeeper is liable, and which source of law would a judge primarily rely on?

Imagine you're a lawyer advising a client whose defamation case was thrown out because a federal anti-SLAPP law restricted the claim. Your client says, 'This law must be unconstitutional because it limits my right to sue.' Which branch of government ultimately decides whether that federal law is valid, and what constitutional doctrine underpins that power?