Common Law is defined as which of the following?

• A. a system of law based on precedent and customs
• B. a code-based system created by legislatures
• C. a body of law derived from religious texts
• D. a strict interpretation of statutes

Answer: (A)

Common Law is a system of law that develops from court decisions and long-standing practices rather than from a written code. In practice, judges decide disputes, and those rulings become precedents that guide future cases with similar facts. This emphasis on what has been decided before and the customs that grow up around those decisions is what defines the common law approach. The principle of stare decisis means courts generally follow established precedents to maintain consistency.

In contrast, a code-based system is organized around a comprehensive written set of statutes created by legislatures, not judicial decisions. A body of law derived from religious texts comes from religious legal traditions, not secular courts. A strict interpretation of statutes focuses on the exact words of laws themselves, sometimes with less reliance on previous judicial decisions to fill gaps. While statutes exist within common-law systems, the defining feature remains that common law primarily grows from precedent and customary practice.