Some state laws that differ from state to state are gun control laws, custody laws, divorce laws, motor carrier laws, business laws and marriage laws. Gun laws and same sex marriage laws have most recently been in the news. Both of these topics are controversial and hotly debated.
In the United States, there are two primary types of laws. Federal laws are passed and upheld by the U.S. government and they apply to all 50 states. State laws, however, are created and maintained by individual state governments.
The passage of time has led to state courts and legislatures expanding, overruling, or modifying the common law; as a result, the laws of any given state invariably differ from the laws of its sister states.
Each state decides what conduct to designate a crime. Thus, each state has its own criminal code. Congress has also chosen to punish certain conduct, codifying federal criminal law in Title 18 of the U.S. Code. Criminal laws vary significantly among the states and the federal government.
State Laws in Everyday Life
States create laws that affect almost every aspect of our daily lives. The most common example is that for those who drive a car, ride a motorcycle, or operate a truck, each state has its own license requirements and traffic laws that must be followed.