They are, however, enforced like laws, and are subject to judicial review by the court system to make sure they're within the limits of the Constitution.
So, Robert, the big marmalade dropper on this story on Thursday night was that the government is challenging Baroness Hallett's demand for this material with judicial review.
Even though the chain of events would lead to his resignation in disgrace, the president could not challenge the established practice of judicial review.
The White House said the Justice Department was reviewing the injunction which applies to several government agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the US Centers for Disease Control.
Marshall's ingenious response was to sidestep the controversy by claiming the power of judicial review for the Court but exercising it in a way that denied Marbury his commission.
Since the Constitution covers the entire scope of government affairs, judicial review could conceivably encompass every aspect of government, and the logic of Marbury v.
Now, the paperwork is from his time as vice president in the Obama administration and Biden said the documents were in a locked garage, that he was cooperating fully with the Department of Justice.
It was at that point that Jenny Dawes, a softly-spoken 74-year-old who moved to Thanet nine years ago, began crowdfunding to cover the legal costs of a judicial review that would challenge the government decision.