university - US statute of Higher Education System

I'm taking for granted several fact about higher-education system in the US, such as:

• Professors can move freely between universities, even ones outside US. They are in this regard like professional football players. (Not every country wholeheartedly allows this.)


• Lecturers can obtain tenure position. (Some countries are in the habit of "perpetually in 5-year contracts")


• There is such a thing as liberal arts education. (Not all countries have this!)


• An undergraduate student can take a major and a minor in their study. (Some countries prefer to have only majors)


• ...

My question: where can I find documents regarding all these higher education system rules and statute? Which part is governed by the government (state/federal), and which part is decentralized to the univ. management?

Links to such documents (US/UK/Australia/Can.) or Wikipedia pages would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!