1. The body of law dealing with the relations between private individuals and the government, and with the structure and operation of the government itself; constitutional law, criminal law, and administrative law taken together. Cf. PRIVATE LAW(1).
2. A statute affecting the general public. • Federal public laws are first published in Statutes at Large and are eventually collected by subject in the U.S. Code. — Abbr. Pub. L.; P.L. — Also termed public statute (abbr. P.S.); general statute. Cf. general law (1) under LAW; general statute under STATUTE. [Cases: Statutes 68. C.J.S. Statutes §§ 154–161.]
3. Constitutional law.
