Common law is primarily developed by what mechanism?

• A. Decisions of courts in cases
• B. Acts of Parliament
• C. International treaties
• D. Executive orders

Answer: (A)

Common law is created through decisions of courts in cases. When judges decide disputes, they state the rules and reasoning that apply to the facts, and those rulings become binding precedents for future cases with similar circumstances. The principle of stare decisis means courts follow earlier decisions, allowing the law to develop gradually as new cases raise new questions or test old rules. This process fills gaps, interprets existing law, and evolves standards over time. Parliament’s Acts establish statutes that can codify or modify the law, but they are not how common law itself develops. International treaties create international obligations, and executive orders are administrative directives; neither is the primary mechanism for developing domestic common law.