Which of the following best defines common law?

• A. A body of law based on custom, general usage, and the rulings and decisions of the courts (judicial precedent), rather than on statutes enacted by a legislature.
• B. A system of law created by royal decrees and religious edicts.
• C. Law that governs international relations and treaties.
• D. A collection of statutory codes enacted by the legislature.

Answer: (A)

Common law develops from the customs and general usage of a society and from the rulings of judges in individual cases. It relies on judicial precedent—the idea that decisions in earlier cases guide future rulings in similar situations—so lawyers and judges look to prior court decisions to resolve new disputes. This creates consistency and predictability as the law evolves through how courts interpret and apply past decisions, not just through statutes. Statutes enacted by legislatures set specific rules, but common law fills in gaps, interprets vague terms, and adapts to new situations through court decisions. In contrast, the other descriptions refer to systems based on royal decrees or religious edicts, international treaties, or purely codified statutory codes. So the description that best defines common law is a body of law based on custom, general usage, and the rulings and decisions of the courts (judicial precedent).