Specificity
Definition
In US Government, specificity refers to how detailed and precise laws, regulations, or policies are.
Analogy
Specificity is like a recipe for baking cookies. If you just know you need flour, sugar, and butter but don't have specific amounts or instructions, your cookies might not turn out well. Similarly, laws need specificity so everyone knows exactly what's expected and there's less room for interpretation.
Related terms
Statute Law: These are written laws passed by legislative bodies at any level of government. The specificity in these laws helps ensure clarity and uniform application.
Regulation: These are rules made by executive departments/agencies with details about how laws will be implemented - again highlighting the importance of specificity.
Judicial Interpretation: This involves courts interpreting and applying law - often dealing with issues around specificity (or lack thereof) in legislation.
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