Common Law consists of rules that have arisen from

• A. judicial decisions
• B. statutes
• C. executive orders
• D. constitutional provisions

Answer: (A)

Common law grows from the decisions judges reach in individual cases; those court opinions become precedents that guide future rulings. This body of rules develops over time as courts interpret issues, apply principles to new facts, and allow prior decisions to influence subsequent ones. It’s distinct from statutes, which are formal laws enacted by legislators, and from executive orders, which are directives issued by the executive branch. Constitutional provisions set fundamental principles, but the practice of common law itself comes from judicial opinions and the doctrine of stare decisis. In practice, common-law rules often address gaps or ambiguities that statutes do not fully cover, shaping standards of care and liability in areas where case law has established expectations.