In the
United States of America, the law regarding
murder is complex, especially due to the principle of "dual sovereignty" that is part of
federalism. In most cases there is a hierarchy of acts, known collectively as
homicide, of which
first degree murder or
felony murder is the most serious, followed by
murder, followed by
manslaughter which is less serious, and ending finally in
justifiable homicide, which is not a crime at all. However, because there are at least 53 relevant jurisdictions, each with its own criminal code, this is a considerable simplification.