Which term refers to the body of law developed from courts rather than statutes?

Which term refers to the body of law developed from courts rather than statutes?

• A. Civil Law Rights
• B. Canon Law
• C. International Law
• D. Common Law Rights

Answer: (D)

Law that grows from judicial decisions and precedents, rather than being written primarily in statutes, defines common law. In a common-law system, courts shape rules through case rulings; the reasoning in one decision informs later rulings, creating a body of law built up over time. This approach fills gaps in statutes and adapts to new situations without new laws every time. By contrast, civil law relies on comprehensive codes enacted by legislatures, canon law governs church matters, and international law governs relations between states through treaties and customary practice. So the term that best describes the body of law developed from courts is common law.

Law that grows from judicial decisions and precedents, rather than being written primarily in statutes, defines common law. In a common-law system, courts shape rules through case rulings; the reasoning in one decision informs later rulings, creating a body of law built up over time. This approach fills gaps in statutes and adapts to new situations without new laws every time. By contrast, civil law relies on comprehensive codes enacted by legislatures, canon law governs church matters, and international law governs relations between states through treaties and customary practice. So the term that best describes the body of law developed from courts is common law.