Which statement best describes case law?

Which statement best describes case law?

• A. Administrative regulations
• B. Decisions interpreting statutes and prior cases
• C. Constitutional amendments
• D. Executive orders

Answer: (B)

Case law is the body of law formed by court decisions. It consists of judicial rulings that interpret statutes and apply or distinguish prior cases, creating precedents that guide future decisions. When a statute is unclear or incomplete, judges look to earlier decisions to decide how the law should apply to the facts at hand, and those opinions establish principles that evolve over time. This is different from administrative regulations (rules created by agencies), constitutional amendments (changes to the constitution), or executive orders (directives from the executive branch).

Case law is the body of law formed by court decisions. It consists of judicial rulings that interpret statutes and apply or distinguish prior cases, creating precedents that guide future decisions. When a statute is unclear or incomplete, judges look to earlier decisions to decide how the law should apply to the facts at hand, and those opinions establish principles that evolve over time. This is different from administrative regulations (rules created by agencies), constitutional amendments (changes to the constitution), or executive orders (directives from the executive branch).