Which term best describes law developed through court decisions and judicial opinions?

• A. Enacted Legislation
• B. Common Law
• C. Administrative Policy
• D. Religious Doctrine

Answer: (B)

Law developed through court decisions and judicial opinions is common law. In this approach, judges resolve disputes and write opinions that interpret how laws should apply to real cases. Those decisions create precedent, so future cases with similar facts follow the same principles unless a higher court overrules them. This makes common law a living, evolving body that fills gaps and adapts to new situations as courts decide them.

Enacted legislation comes from statutes passed by elected bodies, not from decisions written by judges. Administrative policy refers to rules created by government agencies to implement statutes. Religious doctrine represents beliefs that guide conduct for adherents but are not the secular law created by courts.