Common Law is defined as rules created by which authority?

• A. Written Statutes Enacted by a Legislature
• B. Common Law Created by Judges or Past Cases
• C. International Treaties
• D. Executive Orders from the President

Answer: (B)

Common law consists of rules created by judges through court decisions and the doctrine of precedent. It grows as past cases are interpreted and applied to new disputes, so courts rely on earlier rulings to decide current ones. This creates a body of law that evolves without new statutes every time a similar issue arises. Written statutes enacted by a legislature are statutory law, created by the legislative branch. International treaties govern relationships between nations and become domestic law only if adopted or incorporated. Executive orders from the president are executive or administrative actions that implement policy or statutes, not the source of common law.