It was supplemented by masses of specialized statutes that were passed to meet temporary problems.
The Legislature has passed statutes that are too vague to constrain cities from taking property for private parties.
Federal district judges would have the legal discretion to fix sentences, within the range now fixed by statutes -- the statutes that were largely superseded by the guidelines.
"In our judgment, when the legal interpretations of public statutes that are kept secret from the American public, the government is effectively relying on secret law," they wrote.
"With Swartz, with Weev with Barrett, there was no hacking, yet they are being prosecuted by statutes that were made for hackers".
Finally, some of the same arguments, and even same statutes that were used during Jim Crow, are being used today to prevent gay marriage.
"You have a very activist administration and you have statutes that are very broad, allowing agencies to do what they see fit, and it's really a perfect storm.
And under Rove, the Republicans hit that limit in many states, which now have either constitutional amendments like the one overturned Tuesday, or statutes that were put to the voters, or both.
Mr. Nocenti directed agency heads to a list of state regulations and statutes that were likely to need overhaul, including measures affecting a spouse's ability to collect a deceased spouse's pension and to continue to use public housing.
Texting isn't covered in the law for those 18 and older, but other statutes that are aimed at distracted driving can restrict driving and texting.
