Sources of Law: Constitutional Law and Common Law

Vocabulary flashcards covering the primary sources of law, including constitutional law, state vs. federal constitutions, the Bill of Rights, common law, and stare decisis.

Constitutional law

Law derived from the U.S. Constitution that establishes the structure, powers, and limitations of government.

Federal Constitution

The supreme law of the United States, against which conflicting laws generally cannot stand.

State constitutions

Documents that establish state government structures and may provide greater protection for individual rights than the federal Constitution.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, providing protections for speech, press, religion, and due process.

Common law

A legal system that develops through judicial decisions and precedents rather than solely through statutes enacted by legislatures.

Stare decisis

The key principle of common law meaning courts generally follow established precedent when deciding similar cases to promote consistency and predictability.