Final answer:
The two main branches of law in the United States are public and private law. State and federal courts hear both civil and criminal law cases. The U.S. operates under a common law system, allowing judicial interpretation and law-making through court decisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the branches of law and the types of disputes heard in the United States courts. There are indeed two main branches of law in the United States: public law and private law. Public law governs the relationship between individuals and the state and includes constitutional, administrative, and criminal law. On the other hand, private law refers to the rules and regulations that govern relationships between private citizens, including contracts, property, and family law.
As for the types of disputes that state and federal courts hear, the correct answer is they deal with both civil and criminal law. Criminal law involves the government enacting rules with established punishments for prohibited acts that can harm society, such as felonies or misdemeanors. In civil law cases, private parties bring forth claims alleging harm or injury committed by another party.
Moreover, the United States legal system is based on the common law tradition, allowing the courts to interpret and make law through their rulings, which is distinct from a code law system where judges only apply the law. This system empowers the judiciary to have a significant role in law-making. In historical context, Roman law provided the framework for both public and private law, which has influenced the legal systems in the modern era, including the United States.