Primary Sources of Law: Statutes, Case Law, Regulations, and Administrative Decisions

Question 1

Which of the following is a characteristic of a secondary source of law?

Accepted Answer

It is persuasive but not binding.

Answer

It is created by a legislative body or other authorized entity.

Answer

It is binding on lower courts.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a primary source of law?

Accepted Answer

Legal dictionary

Answer

Statute

Answer

Case law

Answer

Regulation

Question 3

Which of the following is the primary source of law that consists of court decisions?

Accepted Answer

Case Law

Answer

Treaty

Answer

Statute

Answer

Regulation

Question 4

Which term is used to describe a law enacted by a legislative body?

Accepted Answer

Statute

Answer

Bylaw

Answer

Ordinance

Answer

Regulation

Question 5

Which of the following is the highest court in the federal judicial system of the United States?

Accepted Answer

Supreme Court

Answer

District Court

Answer

Court of Appeals

Answer

State Supreme Court

Question 6

Which government agency is responsible for creating and enforcing regulations?

Accepted Answer

Administrative Agency

Answer

Judicial Branch

Answer

Executive Branch

Answer

Legislative Body

Question 7

Which characteristic is essential for a statute to be considered well-written?

Accepted Answer

Clear and Concise Language

Answer

Extensive Detail

Answer

Technical Jargon

Question 8

Which principle of statutory interpretation focuses on interpreting statutes in a way that aligns with their intended purpose?

Accepted Answer

Purposive Interpretation

Answer

Historical Interpretation

Answer

Literal Interpretation

Answer

Textual Interpretation

Question 9

Which advantage is associated with using primary sources of law?

Accepted Answer

Provides Direct and Reliable Information

Answer

Ease of Understanding

Answer

Absence of Bias

Answer

Guaranteed Accuracy

Question 10

Which written document is commonly used to organize and present the findings of legal research?

Accepted Answer

Legal Memorandum

Answer

Motion

Answer

Brief

Answer

Pleading

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT considered a primary source of law?

Accepted Answer

Textbook

Answer

Case law

Answer

Regulation

Answer

Statute

Question 12

In the United States court system, which court holds the highest judicial authority?

Accepted Answer

United States Supreme Court

Answer

Appellate Court

Answer

State Supreme Court

Answer

Federal District Court

Question 13

Which publication serves as the official compilation of federal statutes?

Accepted Answer

United States Code

Answer

Code of Federal Regulations

Answer

Federal Register

Question 14

What is the formal process through which a proposed law is transformed into a binding legal rule?

Accepted Answer

Enactment

Answer

Promulgation

Answer

Adoption

Answer

Codification

Question 15

In the context of legal reasoning, what is the nature of a persuasive precedent?

Accepted Answer

It serves as a persuasive argument but does not hold binding authority in court.

Answer

It holds binding authority in courts nationwide.

Answer

It is binding on all courts within the same governing region.

Question 16

What fundamental distinction exists between a statute and a regulation?

Accepted Answer

Statutes are enacted by legislative bodies, while regulations are created by administrative agencies.

Answer

Statutes are inherently more detailed than regulations.

Question 17

Which of the following illustrates an example of an administrative decision?

Accepted Answer

A zoning board's ruling

Answer

A decision by a court of appeals

Answer

A legal scholar's opinion

Answer

A law passed by Congress

Question 18

What is the primary purpose of the Federal Register?

Accepted Answer

To publish proposed and finalized regulations

Answer

To publish federal statutes

Answer

To provide a record of U.S. Supreme Court decisions

Answer

To offer legal advice to the President

Question 19

A defining characteristic of a common law system is its reliance on:

Accepted Answer

Judicial precedent as a means of interpreting the law

Answer

The exclusive authority of the legislature to enact laws

Answer

The presence of a codified constitution as the supreme legal authority

Question 20

What is the fundamental distinction between a primary source of law and a secondary source of law?

Accepted Answer

A primary source is created by a legal authority, while a secondary source interprets or analyzes the law.

Answer

Primary sources are inherently more reliable than secondary sources.

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT a primary source of American law?

Accepted Answer

Legal encyclopedias

Answer

Case law

Answer

Regulations

Answer

Statutes

Question 22

Which level of the federal court system is the highest?

Accepted Answer

U.S. Supreme Court

Answer

U.S. District Court

Answer

U.S. Court of Appeals

Answer

U.S. Bankruptcy Court

Question 23

What is the term for a law enacted by a legislative body?

Accepted Answer

Statute

Answer

Code

Answer

Regulation

Answer

Ordinance

Question 24

What is the purpose of an administrative decision?

Accepted Answer

To interpret and apply laws

Answer

To establish new laws

Answer

To create regulations

Answer

To overturn court decisions

Question 25

When interpreting a statute, courts will typically first consider:

Accepted Answer

The plain meaning rule

Answer

Common law principles

Answer

Legislative history

Answer

Public policy

Question 26

What is the doctrine of stare decisis based on?

Accepted Answer

The principle of following precedent

Answer

The right to a fair trial

Answer

The right to counsel

Answer

The separation of powers

Question 27

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of common law?

Accepted Answer

It is created by judges through decisions

Answer

It is based on religious principles

Answer

It is enacted by a legislative body

Answer

It is written down in a code

Question 28

What is the primary function of a legal citation?

Accepted Answer

To identify the source of a legal rule

Answer

To create a new law

Answer

To provide legal advice

Answer

To overturn a court decision

Question 29

What type of primary source of law is a law passed by the U.S. Congress?

Accepted Answer

Statute

Answer

Administrative Decision

Answer

Regulation

Answer

Case Law

Question 30

A judge's written explanation for a court decision is an example of which primary source of law?

Accepted Answer

Case Law

Answer

Statute

Answer

Administrative Decision

Answer

Regulation

Question 31

Which of these is NOT considered a primary source of law?

Accepted Answer

Legal Textbook

Answer

Statute

Answer

Administrative Decision

Answer

Case Law

Question 32

What is a rule created by a government agency to carry out a statute called?

Accepted Answer

Regulation

Answer

Administrative Decision

Answer

Statute

Answer

Case Law

Question 33

What primary sources of law are commonly found in legal databases used for legal research?

Accepted Answer

Case Law and Statutes

Answer

Legal Textbooks

Answer

Newspaper Articles

Answer

Expert Opinions

Question 34

Which primary source of law relies on the principle of precedent, where judges use past decisions to guide their rulings?

Accepted Answer

Case Law

Answer

Regulations

Answer

Administrative Decisions

Answer

Statutes

Question 35

A law passed by a state legislature is known as a:

Accepted Answer

State Statute

Answer

Municipal Ordinance

Answer

Case Law

Answer

Federal Statute

Question 36

The process of determining the meaning of a statute is called:

Accepted Answer

Statutory Interpretation

Answer

Precedent Analysis

Answer

Case Law Analysis

Answer

Legal Reasoning

Question 37

Why are primary sources of law considered the most authoritative in legal research?

Accepted Answer

They are the original sources of legal rules and principles.

Answer

They are written in plain language.

Answer

They are easily accessible online.

Question 38

A law passed by the U.S. Congress is an example of what type of primary source of law?

Accepted Answer

Statute

Answer

Regulation

Answer

Administrative Decision

Answer

Case Law

Question 39

Which of the following is NOT a primary source of law?

Accepted Answer

Legal Encyclopedia

Answer

Court Decision

Answer

Constitution

Answer

Treaty

Question 40

A legal precedent set by a court in a previous case is known as:

Accepted Answer

Case Law

Answer

Statutory Law

Answer

Constitutional Law

Answer

Administrative Law

Question 41

A law enacted by a state legislature is an example of what type of law?

Accepted Answer

Statutory Law

Answer

Common Law

Answer

Administrative Law

Answer

International Law

Question 42

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issues rules and regulations to implement environmental laws. These regulations are considered:

Accepted Answer

Administrative Law

Answer

Common Law

Answer

Constitutional Law

Answer

Statutory Law

Question 43

A judge's decision in a case can be challenged by a higher court. This process is known as:

Accepted Answer

Appeal

Answer

Regulation

Answer

Precedent

Answer

Statute

Question 44

Which primary source of law establishes the foundation of the American legal system and sets the framework for government?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Constitution

Answer

The U.S. Code

Answer

The Uniform Commercial Code

Answer

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

Question 45

A legal rule established by a court decision that serves as a guide for similar future cases is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Precedent

Answer

Regulation

Answer

Statute

Question 46

You are researching a case involving a contract dispute. Which primary source of law would be most relevant?

Accepted Answer

Case law on contract law

Answer

The Federal Register

Answer

The U.S. Constitution

Answer

A legal treatise on torts

Question 47

Which of the following accurately describes the hierarchy of primary sources of law in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Constitution is the highest authority, followed by federal laws, then state laws, and finally local ordinances.

Answer

State laws are superior to federal laws.

Question 48

Which of the following is NOT a primary source of law?

Accepted Answer

Legal encyclopedia article

Answer

Executive order

Answer

Supreme Court decision

Answer

Federal statute

Question 49

Where would you find the official text of a law passed by the US Congress?

Accepted Answer

United States Code (U.S.C.)

Answer

Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.)

Answer

Federal Register

Answer

United States Reports

Question 50

A precedent established by a higher court that a lower court must follow is known as:

Accepted Answer

Binding precedent

Answer

Stare decisis

Answer

Persuasive authority

Answer

Common law

Question 51

Regulations enacted by federal agencies are published in the:

Accepted Answer

Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.)

Answer

Federal Reporter

Answer

United States Code (U.S.C.)

Answer

Supreme Court Reporter

Question 52

Which of the following best describes the role of administrative decisions?

Accepted Answer

Interpret and implement regulations.

Answer

Amend the Constitution.

Answer

Overturn Supreme Court rulings.

Answer

Create new laws through legislation.

Question 53

A paralegal needs to research the legislative history of a specific law. What resource should they consult?

Accepted Answer

Congressional record and committee reports

Answer

Law review articles

Answer

Legal encyclopedias

Question 54

Which source of law carries the most weight in the US legal system?

Accepted Answer

The US Constitution

Answer

Federal statutes

Answer

State constitutions

Answer

Common law

Question 55

A legal opinion published in the 'Federal Supplement' would likely involve:

Accepted Answer

A decision from a US District Court

Answer

A decision from a US Court of Appeals

Answer

A state supreme court decision

Answer

A decision from the US Supreme Court

Question 56

What is the main difference between common law and statutory law?

Accepted Answer

Common law develops through judicial decisions, while statutory law is created by legislatures.

Answer

Common law is codified, while statutory law is based on tradition.

Answer

Common law applies only to criminal cases, while statutory law applies to civil cases.

Question 57

Why are headnotes in legal reporters helpful for legal research?

Accepted Answer

They provide summaries of key legal issues and rulings in a case.

Answer

They list all the cases cited as precedent in the decision.

Answer

They contain the full text of the legal arguments made by the parties.