The ________ system in America is developed through binding judicial decisions and has its roots in the British tradition.

• A. Civil law
• B. Statutory law
• C. Common law
• D. Canon law

Answer: (C)

Common law is the system in America developed through binding judicial decisions and rooted in the British tradition. In this framework, judges decide cases and their written rulings become precedents that guide future decisions, with higher courts’ rulings binding on lower courts in similar situations. This creates a law that evolves through case outcomes rather than being laid out entirely in statutes. Civil law relies on codified statutes and codes; statutory law comes from legislative enactments; canon law is church law. Note that the United States mainly follows common law, though Louisiana incorporates more civil-law influence in private matters due to its history.